ILDERTON and area Villager
Raising a Calf to Market: What It Takes to Show and Sell at the Ilderton Fair by Taylor Dale, Ilderton 4-H Beef Club Member Raising a calf from birth to a market-ready animal takes a sur- prising amount of time, effort, and care, especially when you’re preparing it for something as special as the Ilderton Fair. It’s not just about feeding an animal; it’s about getting them halter broke and growing their hair. For those who aren’t familiar with showing cattle, here’s a behind the scenes look at what it really takes. On our farm, calves are typically born between April and May. In those early days, they stay close to their mothers and are given time to grow strong. As summer arrives, they’re put out to pasture, spending their days grazing in the sunshine until October. This helps them grow healthy and build muscle while enjoying the freedom of the outdoors.
ILDERTON and area Villager The Village Vibe Pics from Iilderton Farmers Market, Tri-County Heritage & Antique Show, other events
even use a blower (yes, like a human hairdryer!) to dry and fluff their hair. It’s a daily routine that builds trust, patience, and presentation. When fall rolls around again and the Ilderton Fair is finally here, it’s showtime. But before we even enter the show ring, we’ve already been hard at work finding a buyer for our calf. Sometimes it’s a neighbour, a local equipment dealership, or even a family friend, anyone who’s willing to support youth in agriculture. Securing a buyer in advance ensures the animal has a home after the fair and allows us to focus on showing with confidence. Walking into the ring is the reward for months of dedication, training, and care. It’s a proud moment, showing a calf you’ve raised from day one, knowing someone believes in the work you’ve put in.
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Come fall, it’s time to wean the calves. This means they’re gradually separated from their mothers and start eating a more specialized feed to prepare them for the next stage. Around New Year’s, we carefully choose which calf we want to bring to the Ilderton Fair, our “show calf.” This animal gets a bit of special treatment, including a specific diet designed to help it gain weight and muscle in a healthy way. By spring, the real training begins. We start working closely with our show calf, slowly getting it halter broke, starting to grow their hair, and teaching it how to be comfortable around people and in the show ring. We tie them up daily and brush them, just like you’d brush your own hair. We wash them, practice walking them, and
Harrison Crossan would like to thank Dan Carpenter of Bren-Dan Farms for purchasing his 2024 Ilderton Fair Market Steer. See you at the Ilderton Market Livestock Show and Sale this year! Raising a market calf is about more than farming, it’s about care, commitment, and community. And at the Ilderton Fair, all that hard work gets to shine.
Page 4 Ilderton and Area Villager • September 2025
EXHIBITS: June 21 – July 31 “Moments in Time” featuring the work of the
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