MSU Extension 4-H Dairy Cattle Production & Management

Eighty-three youth from 24 counties gathered at the Michigan State University Pavilion for Livestock and Agricultural Education to participate in Michigan 4-H Youth Dairy Days, July 17-21. The program is hosted by Michigan State University Extension 4-H and the Department of Animal Science. Youth demonstrated their skills in handling cattle during the showmanship and breed shows and their dairy science knowledge during the management, judging and quiz bowl contests held throughout the week. The main topic of the event this year was dairy nutrition and many stations during the management contest and questions in the quiz bowl contest focused on this subject. Specifically, topics included identifying feed components, use of the Penn State Particle Separator, metabolic diseases, digestive tract anatomy, and more.  

Individual and team awards were presented at the event in three age divisions for each of the educational contests. Youth in the novice (youth ages 8--11), junior (youth ages 9--14), and senior (youth ages 15-19) divisions compete against their peers from all over Michigan to take home a blue ribbon. Youth in the junior and senior divisions may also earn an additional award for their performance during the week – Overall High Rank and Reserve High Rank. Junior and senior 4-H members who participate in at least three of the four events are eligible. Their placings in each event throughout the week are tallied and the top two juniors and seniors are recognized with an educational scholarship.

Congratulations to all the participants for their hard work before and during the week! Thank you to families, volunteers, and coaches for their continued support of the 4-H dairy project and Michigan 4-H Youth Dairy Days!

Breed Show Winners

• Ayrshire
  • Junior Champion and Overall Champion Ayrshire – Sofia Berens, Allegan County
  • Reserve Junior Champion and Reserve Overall Champion Ayrshire – Addison Surbrook, Jackson County
• Brown Swiss
  • Junior Champion and Reserve Overall Brown Swiss – Jaylin Dilsaver, Sanilac County
  • Reserve Junior Champion – Andi Dillon, Lenawee County
  • Senior Champion and Overall Champion Brown Swiss – Logan Welch, Allegan County
  • Reserve Senior Champion – Audrey Everhart, Jackson County
• Guernsey
  • Junior Champion and Overall Champion Guernsey – Ellie Monroe, Oceana County
  • Reserve Junior Champion and Reserve Overall Champion Guernsey – Logan Welch, Allegan County
• Holstein
• Junior Champion – Irene Nielson, Ingham County
• Reserve Junior Champion – Olivia Black, Clinton County
• Senior Champion and Overall Champion Holstein – Quinn Watts, Clinton County
• Reserve Senior Champion and Overall Reserve Champion Holstein – Taylor Benthem, Missaukee County
• Jersey
  • Junior Champion – Sophia Nielsen, Ingham County
  • Reserve Junior Champion – Seth Jaskot, Monroe County
  • Senior Champion and Overall Champion Jersey – Cash McCauley, Kent County
  • Reserve Senior Champion and Reserve Overall Jersey Champion – Jaylin Dilsaver, Sanilac County
• Milking Shorthorn
  • Junior Champion and Overall Champion Milking Shorthorn – Ellie Monroe, Oceana County
• Red and White
  • Junior Champion and Reserve Overall Red and White – Joey Domecq, Jackson County
  • Reserve Junior Champion – Seth Jaskot, Monroe County
  • Senior Champion and Overall Champion Red and White – Max Hughes, Branch County

Showmanship Winners

• Irene Nielsen, Ingham County
• Olivia Black, Clinton County
• Joey Domecq, Jackson County
• Sophia Nielsen, Ingham County
• Andi Dillon, Lenawee County
• Cash McCauley, Kent County
• Brendon Preston, Branch County
• Braxton Lauer, Hillsdale County

In addition to exhibiting the Supreme Champion Junior Heifer, Irene Nielsen was named the Overall Champion Showperson, which allowed her to take part in the Michigan Livestock Expo Sale-abration on Wednesday, July 19. Olivia Black from Clinton County was the Dairy Showmanship Representative at the Sale-abration. Supreme Senior Champion Cow was exhibited by Cash McCauley, who was also part of the Sale-abration with Nielsen and Black.

Other winners from Michigan 4-H Youth Dairy Days include:

State 4-H Dairy Management Contest Winners

• Novice Division
  • Top Five Individuals
    1. Sophia Berens, Allegan County
    2. Lilly Miller, Clinton County
    3. Levi Stewart, Clinton County
    4. Brendon Preston, Branch County
    5. Karmen Cole, Clinton County
  • First Place Team: Allegan/Clinton/Shiawassee Counties Team - Levi Button (Allegan), Sophia Berens (Allegan), Levi Stewart (Clinton) and Ray Place (Shiawassee)
• Junior Division
  • • Top Five Individuals
      1. Sophia Nielsen, Ingham County
      2. Harper Jane Adkins, Washtenaw County
      3. Lydia Avery, Washtenaw County
      4. Kelsey Gruner, Branch County
      5. Calhoun Place, Shiawassee County
    • First Place Team: Clinton County A - Clarissa Baese, Joshua Miller, Sophia Nielsen and Jeremiah Stewart
• Senior Division
  • Top Five Individuals
    1. Megan Wilson, Isabella County
    2. Emily Wilson, Isabella County
    3. Landon Thelen, Clinton County
    4. Chloe Steiner, Mecosta County
    5. Willow Evans, Clinton County
  • First Place Team: Isabella/Mecosta Counties - Chloe Steiner, Abigail Wilson and Emily Wilson. This team earned the invitation to represent Michigan at the Junior Dairy Management Contest held during the All-American Dairy Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

State 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest

• Novice Division
  • Top Five Individuals:
    1. Braxton Lauer, Hillsdale County
    2. Evan Weidmayer, Washtenaw County
    3. Kayden Harnick, Clinton County
    4. Brenden Preston, Branch County
    5. Max Deters, Newaygo County
  • First Place Team Overall: Branch/Newaygo/Washtenaw Counties – Jagger Bruce (Branch), Max Deters (Newaygo), Brenden Preston (Branch) and Evan Weidmayer (Washtenaw)
• Junior Division
  • Top Five Individuals:
    1. Kelsey Gruner, Branch County
    2. Austin Preston, Branch County
    3. Raelyn Bristle, Washtenaw County
    4. Abigail Lehman, Shiawassee County
    5. Sophia Nielsen, Ingham County
  • Top Five in Oral Reasons:
    1. Kelsey Gruner, Branch County
    2. Harper Jane Adkins, Washtenaw County
    3. Clarissa Baese, Clinton County
    4. Lydia Avery, Washtenaw County
    5. Austin Preston, Branch County
  • First Place Team Overall: Branch County A – Gavin Gruner, Kelsey Gruner, Alec Preston and Austin Preston
  • First Place Team Oral Reasons: Branch County A – Gavin Gruner, Kelsey Gruner, Alec Preston and Austin Preston
• Senior Division
  • Top Five Individuals:
    1. Landon Thelen, Clinton County
    2. Gracie Triick, Ottawa County
    3. Chloe Steiner, Mecosta County
    4. Ross Kelsey, Isabella County
    5. Willow Evans, Clinton County
  • Top Five in Oral Reasons:
    1. Chloe Stiner, Mecosta County
    2. Willow Evans, Clinton County
    3. Landon Thelen, Clinton County
    4. Gracie Triick, Ottawa County
    5. Abbie Wilson, Isabella County
  • First Place Team Overall: Isabella/Mecosta/Newaygo Counties – Lydia Deters (Newaygo), Ross Kelsey (Isabella), Chloe Steiner (Mecosta) and Emily Wilson (Isabella)
  • First Place Team Oral Reasons: Isabella/Mecosta/Newaygo Counties – Lydia Deters (Newaygo), Ross Kelsey (Isabella), Chloe Steiner (Mecosta) and Emily Wilson (Isabella)

State 4-H Quiz Bowl Contest

• Novice Division Winning Team: Clinton County A - Maxwell Baese, Karmen Cole, Ellie Fedawa and Lilly Miller.
• Junior Division Winning Team: Clinton County A - Clarissa Baese, Josh Miller, Sophia Nielsen and Jeremiah Stewart
• Senior Division Winning Team: Allegan County - Kaden Petroshus, Colby Tucker, Lexi VanDenBerg and Logan Welch
  • Top Seniors in Quiz Bowl. These youth may participate in additional workouts to be chosen for the Michigan 4-H Team competing at the National 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl Contest in Louisville, Kentucky during the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE).
    • Chloe Steiner, Mecosta County
    • Landon Thelen, Clinton County
    • Logan Welch, Allegan County
    • Oliva Black, Clinton County
    • Colby Tucker, Allegan County
    • Jordan Hicks, Clinton County
    • Willow Evans, Clinton County
    • Megan Wilson, Isabella County
    • Ross Kelsey, Isabella County
    • Garrett Gruner, Branch County

Overall High Rank Award

• Junior Division
  • Overall High Rank: Irene Nielsen, Ingham County
  • Reserve High Rank: Harper Jane Adkins, Washtenaw County
• Senior Division
  • Overall High Rank: Landon Thelen, Clinton County
  • Reserve High Rank: Chloe Steiner, Mecosta County