Junior Spotlight
This story originally appeared in FARMSHINE, July 6, 2018. www.farmshine.net
She wasn’t farm-raised; but, man, she loves cows!
Somerset County Dairy Princess Brooke Cornell (Pennsylvania)
By JACKIE COUGHENOUR; Special for Farmshine
BERLIN, Pa. -- Brooke Cornell had been anticipating showing dairy animals before she was even old enough to join 4-H. Her mother, Kara Cornell, grinning said: “I was a meanie, and wouldn't let her do it that first year.” But, by Brooke's second year, when she was 10 years old, her mother gave in and gave the okay to proceed with dairy projects.
Rick Webreck, Brooke’s grandfather, said: “When Brooke came to us and said she wanted to show dairy cattle, we didn't know where to start. We had never showed cattle at shows. Without the help from some very special people, it would not have gone so well.”
Brooke's great grandpap, Richard Webreck, and wife Rose Ann Webreck went out of the dairy business about the time Brooke was born (2001), due to health reasons and lack of help. Rick Webreck already had a busy career, and his son Matthew who had helped with much of the work up to that point, had just went off to college. But, they kept some dairy steers to stay active in farming.
As a young child, Brooke was always anxious to help tend the dairy steers with her pap (Rick Webreck) and great grandpap (Richard Webreck).
Since they didn't have their own female animals to choose from, a cousin, Russell Webreck, suggested talking to Justin Kaufman about acquiring a dairy animal to show.
Kara Cornell said: “It, of course, was last minute when we decided to do this, just before the entry deadline. Justin didn't have much available at that point to choose from. The only calf available would be one of the youngest in her class, but that's what we went with.”
While dairy farmers know that those younger, smaller animals will grow up to be a productive member of the milking herd, they just have a hard time competing with the older, larger animals in their class.
Brooke found this to be true all too soon. Her calf placed last in all the shows in which she competed that year. Brooke was sitting on a pile of hay bales bawling her eyes out after the show at the county fair. Her pap and Justin Kaufman, wanting to console her, asked: “What's wrong?” Brooke
was quick to reply: “I really want to do this, and I want to win, I don't want to be last all the time!”
Trying to build her confidence, Justin told her if she really worked hard and showed him that she was serious about doing this, he would get her a good calf for next year that had a better chance of winning.
Brooke's hard work proved to Justin that she meant what she said, and he kept up his end of the bargain by offering a heifer named Wit who held great potential. With the help of Brooke, Wit placed first in her class and won the junior champion award at the fair in 2012.
From that point on, “They created a monster!” Kara Cornell said, speaking of Brooke's passion and drive for her dairy animals.
Brooke has a good working relationship with Justin and Ashley Kaufman, often helping them show and tend some of their cattle when traveling
to different shows.
Kara says that the Kaufmans are good for her daughter in more ways than just cattle. They seem to have a knack for calming her down when things get hectic.
Brooke jokingly describes it as a “love-hate” relationship, referring to a time when she fell asleep in the motel and didn't hear the Kaufmans wanting to get back in the room after banging repeatedly at the door.
A favorite memory for Brooke was receiving a Brown Swiss heifer, for her 13th birthday. It was a big surprise from her Pap and Grandma, which also involved the Kaufmans.
The Webrecks and Kaufmans had secretly been planning this scheme for a while, finding a calf with excellent show potential, named Past.
The group thought they had perhaps made a mistake shortly after the purchase of the heifer, when Brooke inadvertently announced: “I hate Brown Swiss.” But after the halter breaking, which involved running all through the weeds, it eventually all worked out for Brooke and Past. They became very close and a hard team to beat at many shows. Past was named junior champion at the Pennsylvania Junior Dairy Show.
Another favorite memory of Brooke's was attending the World Dairy Expo in 2017. “It's something I think everyone should go to, it's like Hollywood for dairy cows!” Brooke, said. “It was huge. Barns and barns of cattle, our cattle were in tents, and so many different vendors.” she added. Kara described it as ten times the size of the All American Show held in Harrisburg.
The trip to the Expo was also a surprise conjured up by her Pap and Justin Kaufman. They felt that Past's daughter, Paylyne, showed enough potential to compete at the show. Knowing that competition is very stiff, the ultimatum was given to Brooke, that if she was happy with the possibility of only placing in the middle, they would see that she got the chance to experience the Expo. Turns out Paylyne did very well, and placed first in the junior show, third in the open show and was named best bred and owned in the winter yearling class.
“You meet such great people at these shows!" Rick Webreck said, "All this has been a good experience for Brooke. It has taught her responsibility, she does all the work by herself.
“But, something that means more than winning ribbons, is the good impression these kids make on other people. At the All American Show in Harrisburg, a man whom we did not know, nor did we know who he was watching, told Brooke what a nice job she was doing on fitting her animal. He was impressed that she was doing it all on her own.”
Brooke now owns three of her own Brown Swiss cattle. The first named Past is the mother of the other two, named Paylyne and Poppy. Poppy was just recently born. She also owns one Red & White Holstein named Daphne.
In working with her dairy animals, Brooke takes pride in doing all the training, clipping and fitting herself. The fruits of her labor has sent her home with numerous honors from many dairy shows. But she remembers a time in the beginning when it wasn't so successful.
Extending a big 'thank-you', Brooke says that many people have gone out of their way to help her and were generous with their time, whether it was with her cattle, at the shows or offering her encouragement in dairy promotion.
Her future plans are to take classes in pre-vet or animal science after high school.
Brooke was crowned 2018-2019 Somerset County Dairy Princess at a coronation ceremony held on May 19 at the Berlin Alliance Church. She is the 17-year-old daughter of Greg and Kara Cornell of Berlin.
Brooke presented her original skit and speech, which touted the nutritious goodness of dairy products. Being sports oriented, she especially stressed replenishing nutrients to the body with chocolate milk after participating in a sporting event.
She portrayed a coach at sports practice, telling her team that they need to ditch the candy as an after practice snack, and replace it with things like chocolate milk and cheese sticks.
While she was not raised on a dairy farm, dairy cattle and farming have always been a part of her life. “Being dairy princess is just something I always wanted to do,” she said.
Brooke is looking forward to meeting new people and especially doing dairy promotions at schools with young children.
“I want to do the best job I possibly can in promoting the dairy industry. I want to show the real faces of the dairy industry and clear up some of the misconceptions,” she stated. She then offered a word of encouragement to struggling dairy farmers, saying: “Hang in there, keep on truckin'!”
People who know Brooke are confident she will tackle the task of being dairy princess head-on, with the same drive and passion she handles all her priorities in life, such as her passion in the dairy show scene.
To make arrangements to have Brooke attend your school or speak at your event to do activities or dip ice cream to promote the dairy industry in Somerset County [Pennsylvania], please call 814-521-4306 or 814-483-0698 to schedule.