The very first Holstein show in Richmond was held in 1912. Local dairymen drove their best Holsteins into the old LDS tithing yard (where Harris Dairyland is now located). Judges rode through the herds and picked out the best cattle.
A short break in 1913/14 was due to a national emergency caused by hoof-and-mouth disease when nearly ALL livestock shows and auctions were closed in the efforts to prevent the spread of the disease and to eradicate it from herds.
By 1915, though, the disease had been stopped (through vaccination and the destruction of infected animals and herds) and the show resumed. Since then, the show has continued uninterrupted.
As the cattle show and sale continued to grow, other events were added to the celebration. Carnival rides, food vendors, footraces, and a parade were incorporated. The Saturday evening horse pull now caps the week-long event.
Check out these photos from Black & White Days in 1937 and 1939.
109th BLACK & WHITE DAYS
The annual Black & White Days celebration will be held May 13th - 18th, 2024.
PARADE
The Black & White Days parade is held on the Saturday of Black & White Days week and starts at 5:00 P.M.
It begins at 600 South State Street, heads north, turns west at Main Street, then turns south at 100 West, ending at the Park Community Center. The parade line up starts at 800 South State Street.
Click HERE for the 2024 parade instructions.
To sign up to be an entrant in the parade click HERE.
BOOTH RESERVATION
The Richmond Lions Club host the vendor booths. Please contact Roger Priest via email at richmondcitylions [at] gmail.com with questions or to reserve a booth space.
HORSE SHOW
The horse show starts on Saturday morning at 9:00 A.M. and goes until all classifications are complete.
COW-A-BUNGA RACE 2023
The Cow-A-Bunga Race was held on Saturday, May 20th.
There are three distances to choose from: 1-mile, 5k and 10K.
STAMPEDE BIKE RACE 2024
The third annual Stampede bike race will be held on Saturday, May 18th. There are two course options; a 25-mile or 50-mile.
Click HERE to see the 25-mile course route.
Click HERE to see the 50-mile course route.
You can register online now through Friday, May 17th, click HERE to register for this event.
DAIRY SHOW 2023
The Dairy Show was held on Saturday, May 20th.
ROYALTY
On Monday, March 11th, Lyndsee Shields was crowned this year's Royalty Queen. Kaitlyn Schumann, Ashley Durfee and Macaylie Lewis are this year's attendants.
Thanks to Rhonda Davis and her committee, the judges and all those who volunteer their time year after year to make this event possible.
Pictured (L to R): Macaylie, Kaitlyn, Ashley, Lyndsee