Lindsey Middleton is an actor who grew up in Fort Erie where she spent five years participating in the Bertie 4-H Dairy Club. She recalls warm fall days spent alongside her peers and their calves competing at the local fair as some of her favourite 4-H memories. At the age of 13, Lindsey qualified for the Scotiabank Hays Classic, now known as the TD Canadian 4-H Dairy Classic; however, was unfortunately unable to compete as her calf contracted ring worm days before the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Despite the misfortune, Lindsey travelled to the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair to support her team and appreciated the experience of the national show.
Despite not growing up on a farm, Lindsey fondly remembers spending much time at Walnutknoll Dairy Farm in Fort Erie, Ont. training 4-H calves. Little did she know at the time that this farm would become a backdrop to the Bell Fibe TV1 show, Cows Come Home.
Cows Come Home is about a woman whose life falls apart in the big city, so she moves home to her small town and with the help of her best friend, puts the pieces back together through the world of competitive cow showing. Lindsey Middleton co-produced and co-wrote Cows Come Home alongside Katie Uhlmann, in addition to starring as the show’s main character.
The idea for Cows Come Home formed in 2021 when Lindsey watched the movie, “Best In Show” about dog showing. She remembers immediately watching the movie and thinking, “Huh… I should make this but with 4-H cow showing. No one has ever seen that in the media. There are not really any shows about cows, period,” said Lindsey. Fast forward and after connecting with Katie, the pair immediately bonded over the idea for a TV show about showing calves and they began writing scripts. After pitching the show to Bell Fibe TV1, the channel was interested right away and once the funding cycle lined up, Cows Come Home began its official journey to TV.
Cows Come Home was filmed in the Fall of 2024 in the Fort Erie area. Lindsey shares that filming the show was a very full circle experience. “Two of the main locations we shot were Walnutknoll Dairy Farm which is where I [borrowed] calves to show in 4-H, and I CAN-T.E.R, which is where my mom worked and I learned how to ride horses. It was a very nostalgic, homecoming experience,” shares Lindsey. “My 4-H leader came and helped train the calves for the TV show and my other 4-H leader was always there to hold the calf when it wasn’t being filmed.”
“I was lucky enough to have been a part of Lindsay’s 4-H journey. She always loved being in the barn, training her 4-H calf and really taking in all she could to learn. She always had a smile on her face,” says Ariane Sneek, Lindsey’s 4-H Club Leader. “Moving forward to this year and being back in the barn with Lindsay was like time had stood still. She was still beaming being back in the barn and working with the calves. She excitedly talked about the process and creation of the show, being able to tell a story that highlighted the aspects of 4-H, valuing her hometown roots and her love for the farm.”
Filming Cows Come Home reminded Lindsey of the niche skills she holds as a result of her time in 4-H, including clipping, washing and training a calf, general care for livestock, weeds and seeds identification and more. However, the one thing she learned in 4-H that sticks with her every day is the 4-H motto: ‘Learn To Do By Doing’. “Cows Come Home is a prime example of this because through this process, I had to incorporate a business which is something I had never done before. I’m currently doing accounting, payroll and all these different [areas of] business that I don’t have a ton of experience in,” said Lindsey. “I do get overwhelmed [but] I say to myself, ‘Learn To Do By Doing, you’ve done it your whole life. Instead of clipping an animal, it’s now accounting!’”
Lindsey knew she wanted to be an actor from the time she was five years old. She performed in community theatre in her hometown and participated in theatre throughout high school. She salutes her drama teacher for helping her audition for theatre schools and she went on to study at an acting school in Toronto for four years. Since then, she has starred in numerous productions and shows such as “Out with Dad” and now “Cows Come Home”.
When asked about advice she has for youth interested in pursuing a career in film, she encourages youth to not be afraid to be “relentless”. “Being relentless can be kindness, it can be openness, it can be vulnerability. Willing to put yourself out there and tell people this is something you’re interested in and asking, ‘Do you know how I can get there?’” shares Lindsey. “Relentless is not a negative word, but it is determination. Being clear with what you want, pursuing it and not being afraid to ask for help.”
“I am very proud of Cows Come Home. Performance wise, but also the community it built,” says Lindsey. Cows Come Home will be released on Bell Fibe TV1 in the Spring of 2025. Stay up to date with Lindsey and Cows Come Home by following the show on Instagram.