S.C. Dairy Show Draws Students, Families from 13 States

Greg Wilson/Anderson Obsever

For nearly half a century, the Clemson Spring Dairy Show and Junior Dairy Weekend, hosted by Clemson Extension at T. Ed Garrison Area, has been the cornerstone of South Carolina’s youth dairy shows as well as one of the premier dairy cattle shows in the Southeast.

This year, 200 students from 13 states gathered for the event, which included a public speaking contest, the S.C. 4-H and FFA Dairy Judging Contest, the FFA Dairy Handlers Contest, a dairy heifer sale and a fun night for the youth.

The show also highlights the Dairy Heifer Project, founded in 1974, which provides opportunities for students to learn about dairying and the dairy industry. The project was designed to provide boys and girls in South Carolina who may not live on a farm an opportunity to raise a dairy heifer and experience the dairy industry, and then sell their heifer at the South Carolina Dairy Bred Heifer Sale before she begins milking. Youth receive their heifers by random draw when they are 3-4 months old, care for and show, and then sell them as a bred heifer in the S.C. Youth Dairy Heifer Sale. In addition, the sale serves as an excellent source of herd replacements for South Carolina dairymen.

The show also highlights the agricultural tradition of the state, and promotes public awareness of the role of the industry, especially concerning family farms, and fosters a sense of community among the students and families who participate.

The show, which continues through the weekend, is also projected to generate an economic benefit for Anderson County of $34,000.