BAZETTA TWP., Ohio - The final day of the Trumbull County Fair featured one of its most hands-on traditions: the cow milking contest.

Dozens of fairgoers gathered at the milking parlor to watch participants try their hand at filling a bucket the old-fashioned way. Contestants had just a minute and 45 seconds to milk as much as possible, with bragging rights on the line.

Holly Smallsreed, a 4-H mom and the official overseeing the contest, says the event has become a fun staple. “They pick a stall number, each cow number, and then they will have to milk her as much as they can in a minute, 45 seconds,” she said. “Then I measure it to see how much they milked.”

Smallsreed, who helps run the milking parlor all week, says there’s no real secret—just experience and respect for the animals. “Definitely experience. There’s really no secret. Just have to be nice to her,” she added.

This year’s winner, Gary Kibler, has been around cows his whole life. “I’m up at 4:30 every morning, six days a week,” he said. “You're working from 4:30 to four in the afternoon, on call 24/7. It's a lot of work.”

Also among the contestants was Julianne McCormick, a full-time herdswoman who milks over 100 cows back home. She says despite the fun, milking is no simple task. “As far as milking goes, it’s actually kind of a science,” she explained. “You really have to pay attention to detail... sometimes the cow just might not let her milk down.”

McCormick brought 11 show cattle to the fair this week and says events like these are about more than just winning. “It’s fun because it’s something different to do,” she said. “It helps promote the dairy industry and gives people a better understanding of the work behind it.”

As the sun sets, fairgoers can look forward to a fireworks display closing out the 179th annual Trumbull County Fair.