2022 Michigan 4-H Youth Dairy Days in review

Melissa Elischer<elischer@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension -

Youth from around Michigan demonstrate their cattle handling skills and dairy knowledge at the 2022 event.

Youth holding the halters of their dairy animals at Michigan 4-H Youth Dairy Days.
4-H members compete in the final class of dairy cattle showmanship. Photo by Melissa Elischer

In July 2022,  96 youth from 16 counties gathered at the Michigan State University (MSU) Pavilion for Livestock and Agricultural Education to participate in Michigan 4-H Youth Dairy Days, a program hosted by Michigan State University Extension 4-H and the MSU Department of Animal Science. Supported by family, friends and volunteers, youth at the event demonstrated their skills in handling cattle during the showmanship and breed shows, and general dairy science knowledge during the management, judging, and quiz bowl contests. Youth in the junior and senior divisions also had the opportunity to earn an additional award for their performance during the week – Overall High Rank and Reserve High Rank. 4-H members who participated in at least three of the four events were eligible, with their placings in each event tallied and the top two juniors and seniors awarded an educational scholarship.

Youth were recognized for their efforts and accomplishments during an awards picnic at the end of the week.  Congratulations to all participants for their hard work before and during Michigan 4-H Youth Dairy Days!

Showmanship Winners

  • Irene Nielsen, Ingham County
  • Olivia Black, Clinton County
  • Ross Kelsey, Isabella County
  • Logan Welch, Allegan County
  • Sophia Nielsen, Ingham County
  • Andi Dillon, Lenawee County
  • Alexandra Haws, Monroe County
  • Isaac Haws, Monroe County

Irene Nielsen was named the Overall Champion Showperson. Olivia Black was awarded Reserve Overall Showperson and Logan Welch received an Honorable Mention.

Breed Show Winners

Holstein

  • Junior Champion, Senior Champion and Grand Champion – Anna Moser, Ingham County
  • Reserve Junior Champion, Reserve Senior Champion and Reserve Champion – Irene Nielsen, Ingham County
  • Red and White
    • Junior Champion and Reserve Grand Champion – Joseph Domecq, Clinton County
    • Reserve Junior Champion – Cash McCauley, Kent County
    • Senior Champion and Grand Champion – Rebecca Lehman, Shiawassee County

Guernsey

  • Junior Champion – Max Hughes, Branch County
  • Reserve Junior Champion – Ellie Monroe, Oceana County

Ayrshire

  • Junior Champion and Grand Champion – Jeremiah Robinson-Moyer, Tuscola County
  • Reserve Junior Champion – Iley Doyle, Shiawassee County
  • Senior Champion and Reserve Senior Champion – Logan Welch, Allegan County

Jersey

  • Junior Champion – Sophia Nielsen, Ingham County
  • Reserve Junior Champion – Madelyn Bennett, Tuscola County
  • Senior Champion and Grand Champion – Logan Welch, Allegan County
  • Reserve Senior Champion and Reserve Grand Champion – Alexandra Haws, Monroe County

Brown Swiss

  • Junior Champion and Reserve Grand Champion – Andi Dillon, Lenawee County
  • Reserve Junior Champion – Thijs Van Rijn, Tuscola County
  • Senior Champion and Grand Champion – Logan Welch, Allegan County

Milking Shorthorn

  • Junior Champion and Reserve Champion – Ellie Monroe, Oceana County

State 4-H Dairy Management Contest Winners

Novice Division

  • Top Five Individuals
    1. Carlton Petroshus, Allegan County
    2. Alec Preston, Branch County
    3. Evan Wiedmayer, Washtenaw County
    4. Gavin Gruner, Branch County
    5. Rebecca Lehman, Shiawassee County
  • First Place Team: Branch County – Luke Clancy, Gavin Gruner, Alec Preston and Brendon Preston

Junior Division

  • Top Five Individuals
    1. Kelsey Gruner, Branch County
    2. Lizzie Pantolin, Washtenaw County
    3. Abigail Lehman, Shiawassee County
    4. Kaden Petroshus, Allegan County
    5. Calhoun Place, Shiawassee County
  • First Place Team: Allegan-Washtenaw Team – Raelyn Bristle, Lizzie Pantolin and Kaden Petroshus

Senior Division

  • Top Five Individuals
    1. Landon Thelen, Clinton County
    2. Abigail Wilson, Isabella County
    3. Emily Wilson, Isabella County
    4. Tristan VanDenBurg, Allegan County
    5. Colby Tucker, Allegan County
  • First Place Team: Isabella County – Ross Kelsey, 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. Alec Preston, Branch County
    2. Grace Weidmayer, Washtenaw County
    3. Julie Linder, Shiawassee County
    4. Evan Weidmayer, Washtenaw County
    5. Luke Clancy, Branch County
  • First Place Team Overall: Allegan-Washtenaw – Sofia Berens, Carlton Petroshus, Evan Weidmayer and Grace Weidmayer

Junior Division

  • Top Five Individuals
    1. Sophia Nielsen, Ingham County
    2. Kelsey Gruner, Branch County
    3. Harper Jane Adkins, Washtenaw County
    4. Kaden Petroshus, Allegan County
    5. Calhoun Place, Shiawassee County
  • Top Five in Oral Reasons
    1. Sophia Nielsen, Ingham County
    2. Kelsey Gruner, Branch County
    3. Harper Jane Adkins, Washtenaw County
    4. JD Miller, Clinton County
    5. Jeremiah Steward, Clinton County
  • First Place Team Overall: Washtenaw County – Harper Jane Adkins, Raelyn Bristle and Lizzie Pantolin
  • First Place Team Oral Reasons: Clinton County – Clarissa Baese, Meadow Evans, Sophia Nielsen and JD Miller

Senior Division

  • Top Five Individuals
    1. Olivia Black, Clinton County
    2. Logan Welch, Allegan County
    3. Ross Kelsey, Isabella County
    4. Chloe Steiner, Mecosta County
    5. Cassidy Harris, Clinton County
  • Top Five in Oral Reasons
    1. Olivia Black, Clinton County
    2. Willow Evans, Clinton County
    3. Chloe Steiner, Mecosta County
    4. Ross Kelsey, Isabella County
    5. Cassidy Harris, Clinton County
  • First Place Team Overall: Isabella County – Ross Kelsey, Chloe Steiner, Abigail Wilson and Emily Wilson
  • First Place Team Oral Reasons: Clinton County – Oliva Black, Joseph Domecq, Willow Evans and Cassidy Harris

State 4-H Quiz Bowl Contest

  • Novice Division Winning Team: Washtenaw County – Adler Line, Layla Line, Evan Weidmayer and Grace Weidmayer
  • Junior Division Winning Team: Washtenaw County – Harper Jane Adkins, Lydia Avery, Raelyn Bristle, Jolene Line and Lizzie Pantolin
  • Senior Division Winning Team: Clinton County – Joey Arens, Olivia Black, Jolene Nash and Landon Thelen

Overall High Rank Award

Junior Division

  1. Kelsey Gruner, Branch County
  2. Kaden Petroshus, Allegan County

Senior Division

  1. Olivia Black, Clinton County
  2. Willow Evans, Clinton County

Michigan 4-H Youth Dairy Days returns July 17-21, 2023, at the MSU Pavilion.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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