This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
There is not a city in Utah that has experienced more bovine bliss than Richmond.
On Friday, the tiny Cache County town celebrated the 100th anniversary of its Western Spring National Cow Show. Dairy farmers from across the region brought their best Holstein cows to be judged against their peers, hoping to earn bragging rights and cash. The prize for this year's champion was $10,000.
At 100, the Richmond cow show — part of the city's annual Black & White Days — is considered one of the country's longest-running shows of its type and one of the few to earn "national status," said Kristi Spence, with the Dairy Council of Utah.
She said dairy farming has a rich tradition in Utah, and it is an essential part of today's economy. In 2013, milk was valued at $397 million, a state record, and dairy is second only to beef as the state's top agricultural product.
The first Holstein show in Richmond took place in 1912 in the old LDS tithing yard, according to official town history, but soon came to a halt as nearly all livestock shows and auctions were shut down to prevent the spread of hoof-and-mouth disease.
By 1915, the disease had been stopped through vaccination and the destruction of infected animals. The Richmond show resumed on March 17, 1915, on the farm of C. Z. Harris, and it has continued uninterrupted ever since.
Not surprisingly, the Harris family is still involved. Craig Harris, C.Z.'s great-grandson, operates Richmond's Harris Dairyland and has been the cow show chairman for more than 30 years.
"I still live on the same property and some of the buildings my great-grandfather built are still standing," he told The Tribune.
Craig Harris said his grandfather and the other Richmond dairy farmers "probably had no idea what kind of tradition they were starting" when they brought those first animals together.
For the 2015 show, the city welcomed a national judge — hailing from Wisconsin. Animals were entered into age groups — with 10 to 15 per category — and were judged on size, muscle development and other characteristics that would ultimately bring the most profit.
Earlier in the week, the city also sponsored a junior show and a National Heifer Show.
The Black & White Days celebration continues Saturday with a parade, a 1-mile, 5-K and 12-K run, a horse pull, a talent show, melodrama and fireworks. (See box for details.)
Ted Papageorge and his family own and operate Pappy's Farm in Ogden. They have been showing at Richmond Black & White Days for more than 70 years and have had 10 grand champions. Papageorge was at Friday's show with his father Harry and his children, who also were competing.
"This show has become a family tradition," he said. "We've been showing here for four generations."
100 years of Black & White
The 100th anniversary of Richmond's Black and White Days continues Saturday, May 15. Here's the event schedule:
7 to 10 a.m. • Chuckwagon breakfast at the City Building
8 a.m. • Cow-a-Bunga races, includes 12-K Cherry Peak Run plus 1-mile and 5-K runs. All races begin at Park Elementary School. Cost is $7 per person or $30 for a family of 6
8 a.m. • Horse Show Halter Class
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. • Relic Hall Tours
11 a.m. to 10 p.m. • American Legion burger stand open, proceeds benefit Richmond Fire Station
2 p.m. • Dairy food show at the LDS Stake Center; door prizes.
2 p.m. and 7 p.m. • The Divine Miss Beauvine Melodrama, Richmond Center Theatre, 6 W. Main; admission is $3 at the door
5 p.m. • Richmond parade begins. Elder L. Tom Perry is grand marshal; Zelda Stoddard is the Richmond Centenarian.
7 p.m. • Draft Horse Pull
Dusk • Fireworks, and free movie
Details • richmond-utah.com/bwdays.html