Rachel Krueger, a Stormers volleyball player, steps off the court and into the show ring at this year’s Wisconsin State Fair. Krueger will be showcasing her cattle (Moose, Remy and Pippa) this year, which is something she’s excited about.

The Fair can be Stressful for People and Animals

Krueger expresses her excitement about returning to the fair. “I’m very thankful that Coach DeLisle gave me the green light this year!” she says, noting that while she’s happy for the fair, her academics and playing commitment for the team always comes first. As she prepared for the fair, Krueger said the atmosphere can be overwhelming not just for her, but for her animals too. “I’m always a little nervous with how stressful it can be on my animals, especially the larger ones,” she explains. Krueger encourages fairgoers to please be mindful and ask before approaching and petting the animals. “We always ask people to get permission before petting the animals; it can be dangerous to jump into the pack without the handler nearby,” she says. Krueger also mentions that visitors are usually asked to stay quiet when entering the barns because loud noises can scare the animals.

Experiencing the Fair

This isn’t Krueger’s first time showing cattle. “It’s not my first time at the State Fair, but it is the first time I’ll be showing in the Junior Class.” Krueger shared. She always wanted to participate alongside others in her agriculture group, but with the volleyball season starting in August, Krueger was never available to participate in the Junior Class. However, with the support of Coach DeLisle, Krueger was able to participate and still take part in their pre-season. “I am so thankful that she has worked with me and shown that it is crucial to me,” she says.

Entering Animals: The Process

Krueger walks us through the process of entering herself and animals at State Fair. “Before you can enter your animals, you have to make sure you’re eligible,” she explains. Coming from Germantown, her county requires handlers to complete at least two educational lessons through a local group. “These lessons can cover anything from basic grooming to how milk is processed and used after it leaves the farm,” said Krueger. She further highlights the importance of showmanship. The judges do not evaluate the animals; instead, they judge the handler’s way of taking care of the animals, based on a rule book that emphasizes how animals should be treated in the ring. “For the State Fair, we bring in animals during the middle of the night,” Krueger says. “The last time I attended, we brought our cows in around 2 a.m. After we set up and the animals were in place, we had something called barn duty.” Kueger explained that barn duty is when each person is scheduled to watch the animals for a couple hours so that they are never alone and to make sure that the animals are kept clean.

Krueger will be at the Wisconsin State Fair showing her animals from July 31 to August 3.