Calf born at Westmoreland Fair, named after longtime worker

There are two high profile Marians at the Westmoreland Fair.

One has reddish hair and runs the information booth all day. The second was born at the fairgrounds Friday night and has four legs.

Marian Parker of North Huntingdon, meet Marian the Holstein calf.

“I go see Marian every day,” Parker said.

First-time mom Kira the Holstein dairy cow had quite the audience for the birth of her first calf during opening night of the fair. Between other farmers and fair-goers, Keith Walters estimated about 150 to 200 people were crammed into the barn.

It was just hours after Walters brought his cows from his Slickville farm to the fair when Kira started showing indications that it was time, a few days before her due date.

“Fortunately, she had it here, lot of help here,” Walters said Wednesday.

A group of farmers and the fair veterinarian quickly got to work pulling the calf out of its mother by its front legs in about 30 minutes.

“We didn’t have the proper tools so we had to improvise,” Walters said.

Baby Marian weighed 105 pounds. She was standing in about 90 minutes.

“Sometimes when they’re that big, it takes a little to get them out,” he said.

Parker, 82, watched the birth and then joked with longtime friend Walters afterward about naming the calf after her. It stuck.

She has been feeling down since her dog died this month.

“Everybody’s trying to make me feel good,” Parker said.

On Wednesday, Marian the calf did her part, biting and licking Parker’s clothing while waiting for a morning bottle. Parker has been working at the fair’s information booth for 33 years answering the phones and helping participants.

Marian the calf downed 2 quarts of milk in a matter of minutes.

“She’s doing great,” Walters said.