Michigan 4-H team places third at the 2022 National Junior Dairy Management Contest
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Michigan 4-H youth from Isabella, Mecosta and Newaygo counties traveled to the All-American Dairy Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, September 17-20, to compete at the 36th National Junior Dairy Management Contest, taking third place. The contest, open to 4-H and FFA youth from around the country is quoted in the 2022 contest brochure as providing “… an excellent opportunity to test dairy management knowledge and skills, evaluate top quality animals, and receive experience in evaluation and decision-making. This well-rounded approach will be most beneficial to our youth, the dairy producers of the future.”
Team members at the 2022 contest included Michigan 4-H members Lydia Deters (Newaygo County), Chloe Steiner (Mecosta County), Emily Wilson (Isabella County), Megan Wilson (Isabella County), and their coach Cathy Fry, a Michigan State University Extension volunteer. In addition to placing third as a team, Stiener was third high individual overall among all 4-H and FFA competitors and Deters placed tenth overall.
Youth participants at the contest must have a wide range of knowledge around dairy science topics, including farm and financial management, feed management and evaluation, calf care, animal welfare, meat identification and cattle conformation. The team earned the opportunity to represent Michigan 4-H at this national contest by winning the senior division of the State 4-H Dairy Management Contest held during Michigan 4-H Youth Dairy Days this past July. Following the contest in July, the 4-H members continued to practice and learn, preparing for this contest.
During the trip to Harrisburg, the youth and coach took time to visit other educational. These included state parks in Ohio, the Flight 93 Memorial Park and Gettysburg.
Reflecting on the trip, Coach Fry said: “Traveling to the All-American Dairy Show in Pennsylvania and competing in the National Junior Dairy Management Contest was a great experience for our 4-H’ers. I was very proud of how hard they worked and their third-place finish. We were also able to have a great time seeing a lot of nice cattle at the show and stopping at Gettysburg, the Flight 93 Memorial and McConnels Old Mill Park.”
4-H member Steiner agrees, “The Harrisburg trip was very fun and educational. The management contest was well set-up and went smoothly. Not only did we compete, but we also got to learn new things about dairy cattle and explore a bit of Pennsylvania!”
Senior 4-H youth, ages 15-19, will once again have the opportunity to earn a trip to the All-American Dairy Show and National Junior Dairy Management Contest during Michigan 4-H Youth Dairy Days, July 17-23, 2023, held at the MSU Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education. Keep an eye on Michigan 4-H Youth Dairy Days entry information to find an updated schedule and registration information in the spring of 2023.
