Lancaster County has been known for generations for its livestock herds dotting the countryside, so it would stand to reason that local farmers should make a strong showing during "Livestock Day" at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

Cattle breeder C.J. Furlong of Mount Joy helped to keep alive the tradition of winning local livestock, dominating the Hereford class with the Champion Hereford Bull award for his year-old steer RCK PRM Mega Wide, the Reserve Champion Hereford Bull award and the Reserve Champion Hereford Female award Monday in Open Beef Cattle Judging.

Other county residents also made strong showings in both the beef and swine shows, coming away with significant recognition.

Furlong, who is part owner of the Hereford steers, said he was honored to be recognized by the judges, winning the class champion award for the fourth time at the Farm Show.

"We were just happy to be able to be representing our breed in there," Furlong said. "We had a fantastic day in the Hereford show."

One of the biggest benefits of the Hereford breed is their docile behavior, Furlong said, which makes them easy to manage.

Furlong said Herefords have come a long way in the last decade as a breed, with increased breeding of muscle mass and body structure. He currently has 35 breeding cows on his Mount Joy farm, Chiques Creek Cattle Co. He also has a fitting business, C.J. Cattle Co., where he works with other show cattle.

Attending "too many (Farm Shows) to remember right now," Furlong said the annual event is a good opportunity to compare breeding practices with other livestock owners across the state and advertise for his business.

The next event Furlong said he has to look forward to is the next set of Hereford calves due to be born in two weeks. He said they wait anxiously all year to see how their genetics program is progressing in the breed.

"It's very gratifying to a person to see that baby calf grow into an animal that can be used for breeding in the future," Furlong said.

Besides Furlong's success, Joelynn Donough of Manheim had the Reserve Champion Maine-Anjou Female, JOS MT Miss Reveille, and Katrina Frey, of Quarryville came away with the Reserve Champion Angus Female, Freys KJF Ark Pride M35 S107.

Barb Weaver, who helps run Weaverland Farms in New Holland, won the champion Angus Cow and Calf Award for her 6-year-old animal, Weaverland Blackcap Isabel, and her heifer calf born in September. Weaver co-owns the animals with Orville and Evelyn Heister of McVeytown in Mifflin County. The Heisters lived in Willow Street for 30 years, with Orville serving as director of elementary education in Penn Manor School District.

Raising a champion steer takes good genetics and lots of hard work, Weaver said, and some other tricks.

"Clipping and combing and washing and rinsing and training," Weaver said. "A lot of tender love and care."

Weaver has been coming to the Farm Show for at least 25 years, getting started in the seed stock cattle business when their children had 4-H projects. She said the Farm Show is a great opportunity for children to learn about animals.

Her grandson, 8-year-old Brady Ebersole of Camp Hill, has a bred heifer at the show that is due to give birth to a calf in three weeks. They were clipping her belly in the morning when the calf kicked, and Brady could feel the movement showing the life inside. Weaver said Brady wrote a report for school that said "Angus beef is scrumptious with steak sauce." When she asked where he learned to spell scrumptious, he said it was one of his spelling words.

This also could be the last show for Weaver, who is preparing to sell their herd of 50 animals and go into "semi-retirement."

"It's time to take a deep breath and do something else," Weaver said.

E-mail: myoder@lnpnews.com