Photo by Kelsey Perkins
When local farmer Courtney Henderson started a dairy club in November 2024, she expected about five young people to attend the first meeting. Instead, that number quickly grew to four times that size.
Nearly two years later, Henderson and a group of volunteers, parents and supporters turned an idea born out of necessity into the Cave Hill Dairy Classic, giving local youth an opportunity to show dairy calves in an event of their own.
Henderson recently reflected on the inaugural show in a Facebook post, writing, “If you build it, they will come.”
The idea came after Henderson was injured in March, around the same time her cows finished calving season. By the time she recovered enough to handle the calves, they had grown too large for her to feel comfortable assigning them to young exhibitors.
Photo by Courtney Henderson
Henderson and her father, Jeff, began discussing the possibility of holding their own show. The children quickly embraced the idea, and the Cave Hill Dairy Classic was born.
Last year, Henderson took eight calves and 10 children to the county fair. This year, the new show gave the group an opportunity to create an event centered on the children and their work.
The young exhibitors competed in categories including showmanship, costumes, project books and posters. Judges included Jack Hammock, Lara Lee Edwards, Lee Cronise, Tyler Painter and Scott Stevens.
Henderson credited numerous community members with helping make the event possible.
Brittany Turman and Turman Digital helped organize the event and coordinate contacts. Curtis and Lisa Pauley Browning assisted with preparing the show ring and organizing silent auction items. Tim and Stephanie Agee helped with landscaping, decorating, mowing and preparing the farm.
Henderson also thanked the judges, including Hammock, who traveled to participate.
Her father received special recognition for his work throughout the planning process and on the day of the show. He helped determine where to place the show ring and worked to make the grounds functional and presentable.
The event also reflected Henderson’s emphasis on having the young exhibitors do the work themselves. Participants were expected to regularly show up and work with their calves throughout the summer.
Photographs from the event show children working with their calves in the field and around the show ring, surrounded by families, volunteers and supporters. One photo captured a rainbow stretching across the sky above the event.
Henderson said she was exhausted by the time the show was over, but the children were already talking about what they want to do next year.
For Henderson, that is a sign the effort was worthwhile.
“These kids are simply amazing,” she wrote. “Whatever they want to do, I’ll do whatever I can to make it happen.”
~ Fincastle Herald staff report
