Blue Ribbon Calf Sale arrives soon
The Blue Ribbon Calf Sale, which takes place in West Springfield, MA, has always had a special place in my heart. Since 2018, when I started showing dairy cattle, I have attended every sale and clinic night. In 2022, I began volunteering at the sale, helping with preparations for sale day and going to the fairgrounds days earlier to assist with offloading the heifers from the sellers.
Volunteering at the sale is one of my favorite events of the year, working with other youth from around New England to prepare these animals for the sale. The community of the sale has been built by generations of dairy cattle enthusiasts who all want one thing: to bring youths from throughout Massachusetts and New England closer together.
During the calf sale of 2022, one calf caught my eye. Not in person – she was an add-on spring calf that was not present at the sale. However, I knew she was special when I saw she was a white-switched Jersey. When the hammer went down and they called out my bidder’s number, I knew I would be in for an exciting future with my special Jersey calf. After the sale ended and we finished cleaning up, my family drove down to Rocky Acres Farm (the Richardsons’) and met my new best friend.
Her name is Po Folks Magic Snickers. Backed by many generations of Very Good and Excellent cows, I knew that as she grew, she would follow right in their footsteps. As she grew, she also developed a wry nose, which adds to her grand personality. She has scored 86 points as a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old.
Snickers is the dam of my first bred-and-owned Jersey, Judds SMF Victorious Sprout, a sassy calf to add to my herd. Now, Snickers is bred back to Kash-In Crazefulls Kronos-PP, due in September for her third lactation, and Sprout is bred to Dupat Firstcut, due in March for her first lactation.
Though my Jersey herd is small, I am just getting started in breeding for high-quality show heifers that I can one day pass down to my own children.
The best thing about the Blue Ribbon Calf Sale is that there is a heifer for everyone. The quality of the sale is unmatched, with a mix of the friendly, knowledgeable community and the variety of heifers offered. Whether you are looking for a show heifer for this summer or a springing heifer preparing to calve out, there is a blue ribbon heifer available for you.
To find your next blue ribbon calf, join us March 20 at 5 p.m. for clinics and March 21 for the sale at the Mallary Complex at the Eastern States Exposition.
For more information leading up to the sale, use mablueribbonsale.com or find it on Facebook at Massachusetts Blue Ribbon Calf Sale. We hope to see you there!
by Erin Judd
