Celebrating in silver

FOND DU LAC, Wis. — Entering a dairy animal into a futurity is like rolling the dice as one speculates about how that animal will look in the future. A person hopes the calf they select will turn into a cow that is showable two years down the road.

“To make it in is the luck of the draw,” said Rick Julka, Fond du Lac County Futurity committee member and founding board member.

This summer, the Fond du Lac County Futurity will celebrate its 25th anniversary. With more than 4,000 entries of Holstein cattle since its inception in 2001, the futurity is a longstanding feature event at the Fond du Lac County Fair and one that has drawn thousands of loyal spectators.

More than 50 family farms have paraded animals through the ring, and nearly 500 2-year-olds have been shown in the Fond du Lac Futurity. The event has paid out almost $110,000 in prizes and been supported by 35 sponsors.

Every July 2-year-old and 5-year-old cows that were entered as calves come to the fair to compete in a show bursting with pageantry and glamour. Exhibitors are dressed to impress, wearing suits, ties, tuxedos, top hats and formal-length gowns. In addition to prizes awarded to the top animals, awards are given to the best-dressed male and female.

Committee member Rae Nell Halbur said the prestigious event kicks off with the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Futurity dignitaries are driven into the ring in a car provided by Holiday Automotive and Summit Automotive. There is an emcee, and the county’s Fairest of the Fair, the Wisconsin Holstein princess, the Wisconsin Holstein princess attendant and Alice in Dairyland. Sometimes the Wisconsin Fairest of the Fairs are also present.

Nationally renowned judges, including those who have judged at World Dairy Expo, are called upon to place the cows.

“We have people asking to judge our show,” Halbur said. “The futurity draws people from surrounding counties who come just to see that person judge. I’ve always been amazed at the people who have it on their calendar.”

The standing-room-only show draws fairgoers of all kinds with people coming early to claim a seat for the fancy affair.

“The thing that always impressed me is seeing people coming in every door to watch the show,” Halbur said. “It’s a full house.”

Halbur and Julka said the competition at the futurity is stiff.

“That’s what makes this show unique,” Halbur said. “We have good cattle in Fond du Lac County at a lot of facilities. They’re hard to weed out.”

Julka agreed.

“The quality is there, and it’s not just the top two or three animals in the class,” he said.

Between 130-160 calves are entered into the futurity each year. To qualify, the animal must be registered, and the owner must be a member of the Fond du Lac County Holstein Association. In 2009, 34 head of 2-year-olds were exhibited — the biggest class to date.

“The class was so big that we had to split it,” Julka said.

The most 5-year-olds exhibited in a class were seven cows. The return rate for 5-year-olds is 25%.

“It’s interesting to see what animals are still around,” Julka said. “Getting a 5-year-old there is difficult. They have to calve at the right time and be looking right. Timing is a lot of it.”

Halbur agreed.

“Between 4 and 5 years old, there is a big change in the cow, if she’s still in the herd,” she said. “Just because she’s in the herd doesn’t mean she’s showable. From what I know, we are the only county that has a 5-year-old futurity. Most counties do 2- and 3-year-olds.”

New this year, the futurity has changed from a Holstein futurity to an all-breeds futurity.

To commemorate the 25th anniversary, the futurity will feature a special anniversary class. Any animal entered in the futurity that is not a 2-year-old or a 5-year-old can be shown, making 3-year-olds, 4-year-olds, and cows 6 years old and above, eligible for the ring.

“We have people looking to see if they ever entered an animal that would be one of these ages,” Halbur said. “It’s exciting.”

A world-renowned female judge is hired to judge this year’s futurity. The ring will sparkle for the 25th anniversary as exhibitors dress in silver — a prerequisite to be considered for the best dressed award.  All past judges are invited to attend the 25th as well. In addition, the futurity “After Glow” party is being done up bigger and better this year. The futurity will take place Friday, July 18, at 6:45 p.m.

In the 2-year-old class, awards are given to the first-place animal, first-place junior-owned, best bred and owned and best udder. In the 5-year-old class, awards are given to the first-placed animal, best bred and owned and best udder. A lifetime production award is also awarded in the 5-year-old class. This year’s anniversary class will award a first-place animal as well as a production winner.

“It would be interesting to have a 6- or 7-year-old that still looks the part,” Julka said.

Cash prizes, blankets, chairs and more are awarded to winners. The production winner receives an engraved milk pitcher.

For 25 consecutive years, the Fond du Lac County Futurity has never missed a beat, even during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

“We did a dairy show when no one else did,” Julka said.

From a marriage proposal prior to entering the ring to exhibitors wearing green the year that 4-H turned 100 years old, the futurity has been a place where memories are made amid the fanfare.

“There are people who have nothing to do with the dairy industry who want to come watch,” Julka said. “Anytime we can teach a consumer how we treat our animals, it’s worth it.”

Halbur echoed these sentiments.

“The futurity is a great way for the general public to come and see how animals are treated,” Halbur said. “The media likes to portray production agriculture negatively, but then people see these animals in the ring — how they’re fed, groomed, handled. It shows off a whole other aspect of the dairy industry.”