Published Friday, Jan. 15, 1999 Downs exhibited his Black Angus heifer Monday during judging in the Large Arena at the cavernous Farm Show Building here.
For Downs of Stoneboro, the day started early.
He started grooming his Angus at 5 a.m. for the first round of judging at the still early hour of 8 a.m.
Downs and his wife Annette are herdsmen at Haven Woods Farm in Stoneboro, owned by H. Robert McQuiston of Jackson Center-Polk Road. So Downs not only groomed and showed his own Angus, but also helped with the brown Simmental breed cattle owned by McQuiston. McQuiston was elected president of the Pennsylvania Simmental Association in 1997. In a president's message, McQuiston said the association is working to publicize Simmental cattle and tell the public about their milking characteristics and lean meat.
Downs pointed out that Farm Show exhibitions are a good way to get the word out about a specific breed of beef cattle. "It's a form of advertisement," he said.
Beef cattle owners from across the state are housed in the livestock building. This place was full of activity Monday as farmers groomed and clipped cattle and led them by rope to the Large Arena.
A few feet away from the Haven Woods Farm stalls, Austin Rains of Rains Angus, Route 19, Mercer, was grooming a Black Angus for showing. His son Dale won a major livestock award at last year's Farm Show.
