Another faithful Iowa State Fair dairy exhibitor is sponsoring Dairy Agenda Today's show coverage. The family of long-time Iowa Milking Shorthorn breeders, Noran Shaver and Marcia Shaver-Floyd of the Mysha Farm, is sponsoring show day website coverage of the Milking Shorthorn Show. The show is Friday, August 14 beginning at 8:30 AM with George Halpin of Illinois serving as official.
Noran Shaver (1903-1996) started showing Milking Shorthorns at the Iowa State Fair in 1928, and he—then his daughter, Marcia—have continued each year since. Noran first showed the breed while working for Ralph Clampitt, of Edgewood Farm in New Providence, Iowa; after 14 years, Noran rented—and then bought—his own farm in St. Anthony, Iowa, and the Mysha Herd was established. There were many blue ribbons and grand champions along the way, as well as Premier Breeder and Premier Exhibitor honors. Additionally, Noran was president of the American Milking Shorthorn Society (AMSS) in 1945-1947, was one of the first classifiers of the breed, and judged several state fairs. But, whether showing or judging, the Iowa State Fair was the one he loved most. Noran passed away in 1996 at 93 years of age, having still attended with Marcia the year before.
Marcia showed her first Milking Shorthorn at the Iowa State Fair when she was just 5 years old. Following in Noran’s footsteps, she was elected to the AMSS Board of Directors for two terms. She has judged cattle at 13 state fairs as well as the World Dairy Expo and in Australia. She has received the AMSS Citizen of the Year, the Iowa State Fair Dairy Sportmanship Award, and has been honored by of the Iowa State University Dairy Science Club. Ridgewood Tracy, a 2,700 lb. bull from the Mysha Herd, was the largest Milking Shorthorn that Marcia has shown. And another highlight in her showing career came in 2006, when Mysha Lady Di was named champion of the Milking Shorthorn breed at the World Dairy Expo. And, today, the tradition continues; Marcia has four heifers being shown here.
Dairy Agenda Today thanks the family of Noran Shaver and Marcia Shaver-Floyd, and joins them in celebrating the achievements of the Mysha Farm.