Dairy projects: Kids don't cower from challenge

Beginner’s luck?

Brandi Borba would beg to differ.

The 9-year-old Borba, in her first year showing at the Porterville Fair, made a strong statement at the 62nd annual event mid-May by capturing the Grand Champion prize with her 1,600-pound Holstein cow named “Princess.”

“I was really happy,” Borba, who recently completed fourth grade at Rockford Elementary School, said Sunday. “I was proud of her.”

To put it simply, the Pleasant View 4-H member wasn’t lucky; she was good, and she reaped the fruits of her labor in the form of three silver belt buckles and a plaque.

“It’s really fun,” Borba said, “but it’s a lot of hard work.”

When school was in session, Borba said she returned home from classes to work with “Princess” regularly.

“I have to wash her, work with her a lot, feed her, clean up after her,” she said. “It’s hard sometimes, but it can be fun, too.”

Borba also received Senior Champion Holstein, Outstanding 4-H Holstein Exhibitor and Supreme Dairy Exhibitor honors.

Dairy cows may not receive as much recognition at the Porterville Fair as, say, market steers or market lambs because dairy cows are not sold at the Junior Fair Auction, which concludes each year’s fair.

Louie Tristao, chairman of the dairy cattle department, said there are not enough people in the area who want to purchase dairy cows.

There are, however, a lot of interested dairymen who make an appearance at the Tulare County Fair, which takes place this year from Sept. 15-19, to purchase dairy cows.

Tristao’s son, Ryan Tristao, will sell “Frisky,” who placed third at the Porterville Fair in the Holstein category, at the county fair.

Ryan Tristao, 13, received $2,700 at last year’s county fair for “Riley,” a 1,200-pound Holstein who was 2 years old at the time of sale.

For the younger Tristao, however, the money is secondary.

“A lot of people say you make a lot of money by selling and getting a good profit,” he said. “It’s just cool to show with other people and meet new people.”

Ryan Tristao, who will attend Monache High School in August, secured the Senior Champion All Other Breeds prize at the Porterville Fair with “Foxy,” an 1,100-pound, 3-year-old Holstein.

The cows are judged on their overall conformation, their legs and their dairy character.

Holsteins show together, and all other breeds — which include Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey and Jersey — show together.

The typical dairy project for each kid takes about 15 months, Louie Tristao said.

The heifer is acquired at 8 months old, it is bred at 15 months old and it is sold at 2 years of age.

The cow must be pregnant at the time of sale, Louie Tristao said.

“It’s a very long process,” he said, “and it’s a very risky project because the animal may not breed.”

It was a risk both Borba and Tristao were willing to take.

Other champions were Makayla Reed (Reserve Grand Champion and FFA First Place Junior Dairy Showmanship), Scott McCuen (Junior Champion Holstein), Lisa Barrios (Junior Champion All Other Breeds), Jade Bell (FFA First Place Senior Dairy Showmanship), Kirsten Silva (FFA First Place Novice Dairy Showmanship), Amy Clifton (4-H First Place Senior Dairy Showmanship), Anna Clifton (4-H First Place Junior Dairy Showmanship) and Allison Tristao (4-H First Place Novice Dairy Showmanship).

˛ Contact Alex K.W. Schultz at 784-5000, Ext. 1049 or aschultz@portervillerecorder.com.