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SLAYTON - It takes a lot of help to get dairy cattle ready for the ring and it's hard to keep those white clothes clean while doing it.

Kiley Van Eck of Ruthton held her calf Biltz while her dad, Don Van Eck wiped it down just before she stepped into the ring at the Murray County Fair Thursday. Her older sister Kaitlin Van Eck was also at the fair helping Kiley, 14, and brother, Cody Van Eck, 18. They are members of the Lakers 4-H Club.

Traci Schlecht of Balaton was getting all kinds of help with her Jersey heifer, Maribel, from her dad, Kim Schlecht and a cousin, Cody Schlecht, who were spraying Maribel's coat and hooves.

Keela Wieneke of Leota watched as Harley Buys and Mike Buys shaved her Holstein, Spaz, and wiped baby oil over her coat to make it shine.

Even with that, it doesn't take long to dirty up those white shirts and pants, which are required to be worn by those showing dairy cattle. Cody Van Eck showed off the dirty smudges he already had from where his cow had rubbed up against him just walking around in the ring.

He's used to it, since he's been in 4-H for 10 years. Kiley's been in 4-H about 8 years.

Showing dairy cattle is natural for the Van Eck siblings, since "we milk dairy cattle on our farm," Kiley said. "I've always liked cattle.

"Showing them is my favorite part," she said.

"Leading them around on the farm," Cody said was what he liked. "Practice showing and training them. Being in the ring is a lot of fun, too."

Both Cody and Kiley had gotten a first place by early in the dairy show, said Kaitlin, and Kiley nabbed a purple ribbon not long after.

"In past years, all three of us have done well in classes and showmanship," said Kaitlin, who finished up her 4-H career last year. "I was in 13 years."

"It's most fun to be in the ring, actually seeing your work pay off," Kaitlin added. "Now, I just get to help the family out."

Traci Schlecht had just one cow at the fair, but her sister, Kari, was showing five.

Traci has been in 4-H for seven or eight years, starting when she was 7.

"We have a hobby farm," she said and dairy cattle is in her blood. "My dad really loves it. His family was in it."

Wieneke lives on a farm, but she's been working on a dairy farm machine-milking cows for four years and that's how she got started showing dairy cattle two years ago.

"It was Dad's job, I kind of took it over," she said. She has two cows that stay at Mike Buys' place.

Wieneke admits she didn't know much when she started last year and didn't win anything at last year's fair, "but I learned over the year," she said.

That's what it's about, said Cody Van Eck.

"If you want to join 4-H, do it," he said. "There's so many opportunities and it will help you chose what you want to do in college. You can enjoy the fruits of your labors."