FARMINGTON — Remembered for her lifelong work in agriculture and 4-H leadership, Sylvia Holbrook was honored at the Farmington Fair this week when family members awarded a prize in her memory to the champion of all breeds at the 4-H Dairy Show.

A 2-year-old Holstein owned by Matt Davis and shown by his sister, Kristen Davis of New Sharon, took the overall champion title and the prize awarded by Holbrook’s grandson, Carl Holbrook of New Vineyard.

Donna Holbrook decided an annual prize in her mother’s memory was fitting for a woman who shared her knowledge and skills with youngsters in the 4-H program. Sylvia Holbrook was also active in steer showing and powder puff oxen pulling at Farmington Fair, Donna said.

Sylvia Holbrook passed away in July at the age of 95. Up until the last few years, Holbrook continued her gardening and butter-making at Hillcrest Farm in New Vineyard, her home for 76 years. She and her late husband, Irving, raised six children and milking shorthorns.

“She was the best mother in the world,” Donna said, remembering things she shared with her mother like cooking, gardening and raising animals. There’s enough memories and stories to fill a book, a book she wants to write, she said.

“She never spoke a bad word about anyone and always found something good in people,” Donna said.

“She also loved to cook and never measured anything,” Carl said, remembering the hot, berry pies she made and her gardens.

Donna’s sibling, Rodney Holbrook, was also at the show to award prizes to several individual breed winners in his mother’s memory.

Holbrook was known as the “butter lady” for the tasty 8,500 pounds of butter she churned and sold annually.

She was a longtime assistant 4-H leader, credited with starting the first club in New Vineyard called the Toughnuts Club in 1957. She was also active in the Franklin County 4-H Steer Club.

Like other generations of families who have participated in showing their work at Farmington Fair, both Donna and Carl have experience in the ring.

“It’s in our blood,” said Carl, who was involved with 4-H throughout his school years and spent a lot of time on his grandparents farm. “You have to work them (the animals) all the time and gain their respect,” he said about the youngsters, all dressed in white, handling the large, sometimes wily animals.

The show is open to any 4-H member, ages 9-18, throughout the state and members from other counties do come, Judy Smith, Franklin County Extension 4-H educator, said. Many of those showing are not raised on farms. They hear about it from friends or see it at fair and lease an animal from a local farmer to work with and show.

It takes practice. They have to watch both the judge and the animal, too, Smith said.

Many support the show by donating awards and showing up to give them out as the Holbrooks did, she said.

This year, Donna is not showing her animals in the open shows but she quickly admits, “I miss it … maybe next year.”

“There’s no other place to be than Farmington Fair,” she said watching the cattle file before the judge. “It’s the response and the people, some whom you don’t see all year.”

As Smith announced breed classes and  Sarah Lane Rowe judged the well-groomed animals, Donna said she wanted to remember her mother’s interest in agriculture, 4-H and fair by supporting the local 4-H dairy show and local business with a gift certificate to a local store. That’s something the Holbrooks intend to do each year.

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