Bovine beauties Cows dress up as Buckeyes, Uncle Sam, maidens, more

The event attracted about 400 spectators Sunday.

By ALISON KEMP

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

CANFIELD — Dairy and beef cows were dressed to the nines for the 35th annual dress-a-cow contest.

The cows and their exhibitors wore themed outfits, including frontier, spaghetti and meatballs, Ohio State Buckeyes and bathroom accessories.

A winner was chosen in each of five categories and second and third places were also announced.

Celebrity judges

The judges included two county judges, Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Jim Evans, who also is the fair board vice president, and Mahoning County Court Judge Diane Vettori. Mahoning County Commissioner John McNally and Gerry Ricciutti from WYTV-Channel 33 also helped judge.

“This is harder than our real job,” Vettori said.

Those who placed received a cash prize, but all participants received a hat or T-shirt stating they participated in the contest and ice cream coupons.

Marlena Liming, 10, of Lordstown, created Bath and Bovine Works, a spin-off of the store Bath and Body Works.

“It’s fun to come up with the fun and different ideas,” she said, showing her cow in the dairy miscellaneous category. Her cow was dressed with a shower curtain and shower cap, and she was wearing a shower cap, slippers and nightgown.

J.T. and A.J. Coppersmith, of Columbiana, also showing a cow in the dairy miscellaneous category, were dressed like characters from the “Shrek” movies. J.T., 6, was dressed like Puss in Boots, A.J., 2, was dressed like Shrek, and the cow was dressed like Donkey.

Their mom, Becky, said they came as characters from “Pirates of the Caribbean” last year.

“They love the fair,” Becky Coppersmith said, especially because her boys were excited about dressing up for the contest.

Christmas in September

The Baker family of Carroll County, Ohio, and Lawrence County, Pa., dressed as the eight milk maids from “The Twelve Days of Christmas” song.

Shel McClain came up with the idea since there were so many daughters in the family. All together, seven girls and their three moms dressed as the milk maids. Their cow was dressed with a cloth that had the 11 other verses to the song printed on it.

Dressed-up cows attracted around 400 people this year.

“There’s so much response from people to see the show,” said Lori Coler, the organizer of the contest. “It’s just a fun thing to do.”

The contest began in 1983 and was sponsored by the Buckeye Dairy Boosters. When they disbanded, the fair took over the contest. Now there are other dress-up contests, too. Llamas, rabbits and goats also having dressing contests at the Canfield Fair.