Another great year for the CMR Farm Show

Carl C. Stafford
Published: July 22, 2008

A big thank you is in order for the community support received by the Culpeper Madison Rappahannock Farm Show.

I know that CMR participants are already busy thanking sponsors, buyers and donors of services and supplies that made this community event a success. No attempt will be made to list or mention the huge number of supporters in this space, but I do wish to describe some of the human results seen.

Before that, let me thank the local papers for their coverage of the CMR Farm Show. This coverage started in early June with the publishing of a special insert by the Culpeper Times that featured the CMR schedule.

At the end of June the Culpeper News got into the action with a front-page story on CMR. The Star-Exponent prominently featured CMR the week before and daily the week of the event. I know that I am not alone in expressing appreciation for the excellent coverage the event received from all three local papers.

As for the changes I observed in people, there is evidence that our youth programs make a difference. CMR revolves around projects, the most noticeable to us are the animals, be they furry, feathered or four-legged. But the projects don’t stop there.

Over half of the show entries are found in the Home Makers building. These involve a cross-section of creative expressions that are difficult to easily describe. These projects include everything from vegetables to baked goods, textiles to flowers, photography to painting and on.

Whether it is an animal project or a textile project, children are learning by doing under the caring supervision of adult leaders and volunteers.

Youth who participate in our 4-H programs are often also members of FFA; they are scouts and athletes, they hold local jobs, sing in the choir, help the disadvantaged, play instruments, are skilled shooters, mechanics and mathematicians, to name a few of their many interests. These young people are a treasure, and they are clearly part of what will make our future bright.

Among a long list of memorable moments from this year’s show, two instances illustrate the impressiveness and accomplishment of our youth exhibitors.

The night of the swine show, leaders brought out the entire department. The young people were four deep in rows stretching across the auction ring there at the Culpeper Agricultural Enterprises. It was an impressive sight to say the least, almost too many to fit into one picture, but the photographer managed to zoom back far enough.

Until you see them together as a group, you don’t realize how significant our youth really are in terms of shear numbers. Many of these youth also had projects in other departments, and it was our first chance to see them together on Thursday night, the first night of another successful farm show.

Another impressive sight was during the senior showmanship class of the beef show. This is the opening class of the beef show held Saturday morning, and our first chance to see this group of senior exhibitors together.

The lineup of calves was impressive, but at their heads stood a long row of teenagers. These youths are closer to the end of their CMR career than they are to the beginning. They, like their counterparts in other departments, are confident, strong and accomplished individuals about ready to go off on their own and meet the world head on.

Only one could win the class, but these teens we have helped produce are all winners. When I see them, I think about their future and wonder what they will do with their many abilities. In this age group at the farm show, I see accomplished young people, an end product that is just beginning to be utilized, one that comes from life experiences, and 4-H is proud to be counted among them.

Carl C. Stafford is the agricultural extension agent for Culpeper County. E-mail