LIVESTOCK SHOWS HAVE LONG TRADITION AT SEMO FAIR

This is Joe Kirchdorfer's 50th consecutive year to enter cows in the SEMO District Fair. It's 5-year-old Danielle Marie Daume's first time.

But both are putting a lot of work into making their animals look their best for judging.

This year's fair boasts more than 1,200 entries of cows, horses, pigs, sheep, poultry, mules, goats, rabbits, pigeons and guinea pigs in the fair's livestock contests, said Marilyn Schott, who with Patty Turner, keeps track of the fair's livestock entries. The animals are on display for the spectators who stroll the livestock area and are shown in front of judges. Those who enter animals come from all age groups.

Kirchdorfer was shampooing several head of registered Jersey cattle Wednesday afternoon in preparation the judging that will be at 10 this morning. Helping him was not only his wife, Mildred, and grown son Eddie, but also his 4-year-old grandson Tyler.

"It's really a family affair for us," Mildred said, speaking of both their efforts at the fair and at the Kirchdorfer farm on Route K in Cape Girardeau. "Tyler is always down at the barn helping out," she said.

On Wednesday, Tyler was hosing down the cattle, and sometimes his grandparents as the family prepared their cattle for judging.

"It's like a beauty contest," Mildred said. "We gave them hair cuts last week, and we're shampooing them now. You want them to look neat and trim."

But cows can't get by on just their looks at the Kirchdorfer farm, which has been in the family for more than 100 years and produces grade A milk for Prairie Farms dairy.

"They have to be milk producers to be on our farm," said Mildred.

Like many of those with entries in the fair, Joe got started showing at the fair when he was in 4-H.

This year, 4-H and FFA entries are up in many categories, Schott said.

Alyson Seyer, age 9 and a 4-H member, was busy brushing her pig on Wednesday afternoon. Her entry had already won two blue ribbons. Seyer, who lives in Oran, put a lot of work into her entry.

"You have to feed it, make sure it has water and check it every day," she said.

This is FFA member Nick Biri's third year to enter the SEMO fair. His Charolais heifer had won a blue ribbon but he was disappointed it didn't rate as a champion.

Biri hopes to one day own cattle operation someday.

"I eventually want to get into raising cattle," he said. "Right now it's just a hobby."

Youngsters who want to get a taste of farm life can head to the fair's Farmer for a Day exhibit located near the arena.

That's where we met up with Danielle Marie Daume, age 5, who plucked eggs from under life-like stuffed chickens, dug in a sandbox for potatoes and picked apples off a carved wooden tree.

"Farmer for a Day is for small children to teach them that farmers provide us with the food we eat," said Lurlyne Snider, who with her husband, Edward, is in charge of the exhibit the SEMO Fair board is sponsoring.

Danielle hadn't collected eggs before, said her grandmother Ethel Daume, but the child is familiar with life on a farm.

This year Danielle has an entry in the Pee Wee Showmanship contest, which will be judged at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Her 6-month old calf is named Pretty Girl, said Danielle, who wore a T-shirt that said "Cowgirls -- It's all in the attitude."

Danielle shook her head yes when asked if she thought she'd win the contest, showing the attitude of a winner.