Holstein Youth Point Way to a Bright Future

Marilyn Hershey
Correspondent

WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. — Of the 1,500 registrants on hand last week for the National Holstein Convention, youth accounted for more than 700 in what many conferees were calling the “largest attended national convention in history.”

Youth toured local dairy operations, visited the Wisconsin Dells, and participated in several contests.

Taking high honors in the Distinguished Junior Member (DJM) contest, Pennsylvania’s David Wilson, Port Royal, was one of the six finalists selected from 12 semi-finalists after completing a project book and a round of intense interviews. Wilson, 21, is pursuing an animal science degree with an agribusiness minor at Penn State. The senior is a member of the intercollegiate Dairy Judging team that won the national title at World Dairy Expo in 2007. Wilson owns 11 registered cows in his family’s herd of 30 Holsteins. His goal is to pursue a master’s degree in genetics.

Another finalist, Chester County, Pa.-born Heather Petersheim moved with her family to Viroqua, Wis. in 1995. Heather is the 21 year-old daughter of Ralph and Sheila Petersheim. She owns 21 animals, coaches Vernon County dairy judging teams, and has worked for Indianhead Holsteins.

New York and Vermont also brought home top DJM honors. Julia Hudyncia, Fort Plain, N.Y. is the 20-year-old daughter of Rob and Shirley Hudyncia, owns 16 Holsteins, three of which are registered Excellent. In 2004, Julie placed first in Holsteins and second high individual in the national 4-H contest at World Dairy Expo. She is a senior at Cornell University and is planning to pursue a master’s degree in dairy nutrition.

Also representing the Northeast in the DJM lineup was Andrew Birch of Derby, Vt. Other finalists were Lucas Sjostrum of Minnesota; and Michael Stewart of Iowa.

In the youth division of DJM, there were eight finalists honored: Sara Bechtel, Martinsburg, Pa.; Sarah Davis, Union Bridge, Md.; Jacob Achen, Sauk Center, Minn.; Kyle Demmer, Peosta, Iowa; Matt Henkes, Luana, Iowa; Tera Koebel, Three Oaks, Minn.; Taylor Pires, Los Banos, Calif.; and Rachel Sammons, Johnston, N.Y.

Eighteen teams competed in the Dairy Bowl contest during Wednesday and Thursday’s portion of the Convention.

Pennsylvania brought home top honors in the senior division as the Centre County team won first place in the Dairy Bowl. The championship match against Illinois was handily decided on Thursday morning.

Coach Dr. Bob Cloninger led the senior team to victory after 16 first-round questions and 15 toss-up questions pertaining to cow health, pedigree data, milking equipment, and crop information. To qualify for the National Contest, the foursome of Dustin Gates, Nathan Ulmer, Derek Wasson and Elizabeth Cloninger won the Pennsylvania Dairy Bowl competition in February 2008.

In the history of Dairy Bowl, Pennsylvania has seen the championship round 27 times, the strongest representation across the country.

In the Junior Dairy Bowl contest, California came home with top awards by defeating the host state of Wisconsin.

There were 87 youth contestants from 20 states that participated in the Dairy Jeopardy contest, in which participants are questioned about cow facts, pedigrees and general information.

Pennsylvania’s Janelle Hartzell, took home top honors in the senior division. Janelle will enter Penn State this fall as a junior. Aaron Palmer and Katie Steinlage took second and third place in the senior division for Iowa.

Intermediate division went to Taylor Pires of California, Hayley Potts of Virginia and Kyle Demmer of Iowa.

Janelle Hartzell and David Wilson were also recipients in the National Holstein Women’s Scholarship Organization Scholarship Award. Five youth were chosen from 14 applicants to receive $1,500 for furthering their education. Other scholarship winners were Julia Hudyncia, Malorie Rhoderick and Lucas Sjostrom. To date the NHWSO has given out over 115 scholarships totaling $123,000.

Junior winners were Caitlin Lopes of California; Logan Potts of Virginia; and Jordan Siemers of Wisconsin.

In the speech contest, the junior division had 18 participants. Winners were Crystal Siemers-Peterman of Wisconsin, first; Lucia Cerasoli of Pennsylvania, second; and Collin Stoltzfus of Pennsylvania, third.

The intermediate division also had 18 entries with first place going to Nancy Jackson of Missouri; second to Jessica Budge of Oregon; and third to Kelly Lee of Wisconsin.

With 12 contestants, the senior division winners were Heidi Scapanski of Minnesota, first; Malorie Rhoderick of Maryland, second; and Abigail Andrew of New York, third.

Speeches are prepared and focus on “hot topics in the industry, technologies used in dairy, and the future of farming.”

Pennsylvania placed first in the scrapbook contest, followed by New York and Iowa. California won a digital scrapbook contest.

Folding display contest winners were Megan Rauen of Iowa, junior; Corbin Wood of Pennsylvania, intermediate; and Keri Bickle of Ohio, senior.
Iowa topped the state banner contest, followed by Washington and Missouri.