Dairy queens

SYRACUSE - Kevin Ziemba quickly worked his way from one Holstein to the next, giving four of his cows one final inspection before they strutted over to the New York State Fair's coliseum where they would be judged on their appearance.

“We've already washed them and we have filled their udders,” Ziemba said. “We want to make these cows look pretty.”

Kevin, an owner of Ziem-Barb-Way farms in Aurora, and his team had been up since 3 a.m. Monday preparing 19 cows for various Dairy Day competitions meant to highlight the region's dairy industry. The cows were cleaned, trimmed, bleached and colored to highlight their colors and make them look their best.