Barn buddies

ARLINGTON, Wis. — Two boys who probably would never have met if not for showing dairy cattle have built a friendship based on work and a mutual passion.

Like many young exhibitors, Mason Moreth, the son of Karl and Chelsie Moreth, and Dakota Voegeli-Paulson, the son of Allyn “Spud” Paulson and Tammy Voegeli, have developed camaraderie during the time they have spent together, learning the skills they need to compete.

Despite their differing backgrounds, a common devotion to their project animals has become the glue that bonds them.

Dakota, a sixth-grader at Poynette Middle School, has grown up on his family’s 45-cow dairy farm near Arlington, and frequently travels with his father, who works as a cattle trucker, hauling animals across the country.

Mason’s family no longer operates a dairy farm, but the Marshall Middle School seventh grader had a yearning to try his hand in the show ring.

“My family used to show with Tammy and her family,” Mason said. “When I started to wonder about doing it, my dad was able to reach out to her and she lets me show some of her animals.”

That was three years, hundreds of lessons learned, and many shows ago.

Dakota had made his first foray into the showring at the age of 3, giving him a bevy of experience to help teach Mason.

“I started showing Jerseys because they’re little,” Dakota said. “Now I like the Brown Swiss, and have some Ayrshires and a Guernsey I show, too.”

Mason has developed an affinity for showing Ayrshires over the past three years.

“I kind of like them,” Mason said. “I also showed a Milking Shorthorn.”

Showing comes with a lot of hard work, much of which happens at the farm before the trailer is ever loaded, the boys said.

“We walk our heifers a lot; we usually try to do it every night,” Dakota said. “We rinse them every night. It’s important to try and keep a routine for the animals. They like that, when everything is the same, every day.”

Mason said he has learned a lot from working with his projects — not just about how to care for them and get them ready to show, but important life skills, too.

“It teaches me about responsibility,” Moreth said. “I really like farming and the cattle and everything, and when I started showing, I realized it not only gives me something to do, it teaches me how to be responsible about things, and I really like that.”

With the nearly five years of showing experience he had under his belt,
Dakota was able to use that knowledge to begin teaching Mason about showing when he started three years ago.

“I like being able to help him learn how to do things,” Dakota said. “It is fun to realize you know something that you can teach someone else how to do. I taught him how to show properly and that in showmanship it’s important to keep your eye on the judge and to be attentive to everything going on, especially your calf.”

While he is busy teaching Mason how to show, Dakota said he learns new things all the time, too. Together, the two boys are beginning to work on their fitting skills, something they say will help them do a better job presenting their animals as they get older.

“My dad fits a lot, all across the company and my brother does, now, too,” Dakota said. “I’ve been watching them all my life, but now I’m starting to learn how to clip, too. I clip with my dad at home and just keep watching.”

One show the boys agree they enjoy going to is the Youth Dairy Classic held each fall in Manchester, Iowa. The show, geared towards youth advancement, fosters competition in all areas — fitting, showmanship and conformation classes.

“We have both done the fitting contest at the Youth Classic,” Dakota said. “Being able clip and be judged about it helps me learn how to get better. The judges tell you what you did well and what you can do better.”

Mason agreed.

“I just started to learn to clip last year,” Mason said. “It is neat to learn how to make your heifer look as good as you can. It takes a lot of practice, but I like the idea of creating something.”

This year, Dakota earned second place in the contest and Mason took third place.

While they say the awards and prizes they have won are great, the pair agreed they are not the best part of showing.

“I just like being able to see how hard work pays off,” Mason said. “I like being able to push myself, and being pushed by Dakota, my parents and Tammy and Spud to always keep trying to do my best.”

Dakota had advice to share with other kids with an interest to learn about showing dairy cattle.

“Just follow your dreams,” Dakota said. “Always try to win, but make sure you’re always having fun, too. That is the most important part.”