The Rural Voice, 2003-09, Page 40Marie Blake shows off one of her family's prize Galloway cattle. The family
has made a practice of winning ribbons at the Royal Winter Fair.
Winning's a family
affair
Molesworth -area fa m i l ij makes farming and
winning prize ribbons an activitg
for the whole famitg
Story and photo by Janice Becker
When it comes to farming,
Clayton and Kathy Salter
and Greg and Marie Blake
keep it all in the family.
While Clayton is on the road
driving long-haul trucks and Kathy
winters in the States, daughter Marie
manages the family's herd of prize-
winning Galloways.
"This herd has been showing at the
36 THE RURAL VOICE
Royal Agricultural Winter Fair for
five years." said Blake. "Before that,
Galloways were just on display."
Her parents have owned Galloways
for many years, said Blake, and she
has been attending the fairs for 23
years.
In 1997, the family had the
opportunity to demonstrate the
quality of their animals when
4
declining numbers of other breeds at
the Royal allowed inclusion of more
exotic breeds.
"It is the hair of their coats that
makes them so unique," she said.
"Many like to put a bit of a cross in
them to (better) show the coat."
Natives of Scotland, the Galloways
are heavy -coated compared to many
other North American breeds.
Blake said the ease of feeding also
makes them a good animal.
With success in their first year of
showing — joint premier exhibitor
and grand champion female — Blake
said breeding is the number one
thing.
"Good record confirms the animals
and shows our stock. We look for
good feet and legs, body proportion
and meat and muscling."
That attention to breeding has paid
off for the Salter/Blake herd as they
have had top finishes each year. In
the second, third and fourth year,
they earned the reserve champion
title and grand champion last year.
"We were taken by surprise last