ADDISON COUNTY — Several Addison County 4-H’ers placed in dairy competitions and the regional dairy show at Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Mass., recently.
DAIRY COMPETITIONS
In the general dairy knowledge contest, held Sept. 17, Sharon Palmer of Weybridge came in seventh in the senior division. All dairy exhibitors were required to take part in this contest.
On Sept. 18, two different 4-H dairy events were held: quiz bowl and the clipping contest. Palmer was a member of the Vermont Quiz Bowl Team, which finished fifth. Vermont’s team for the clipping contest, including Virginia Patz of Shoreham, placed fourth.
Two Vermont teams competed in the dairy judging competition on Sept. 19. In this contest, the 4-H’ers had to evaluate several classes of different breeds of cattle and provide oral reasons for two classes. The scores of all members of each team were combined to determine team rankings.
Addy Parsons of Weybridge was part of Vermont’s A Team, which ranked first in judging Ayrshires, fourth in Brown Swiss and eighth overall. For overall rankings for oral reasons, A Team came in seventh.
Parsons was one of four Vermonters who placed in the top 10 for individual oral reasons. She took fifth place.
DAIRY SHOW
Thirty 4-H’ers represented Vermont at the dairy show on Sept. 19-20. They competed in both fitting and showmanship classes, where exhibitors are judged on their poise and presentation and handling of their animal, and in conformation classes, where the animal is evaluated on body condition and appearance. Awards also were presented by breed for state herds, with Vermont winning first place for Brown Swiss and Holstein and fourth place for Ayrshire.
Given the large number of competitors from throughout New England, several fitting and showmanship classes were held in the junior (ages 12-14) and senior (age 15 and older) divisions. Local 4-H’ers placing in the top five in their respective showmanship classes included:
Junior Showmanship Group 8: Matthew Ouellette, Weybridge (third).
Senior Showmanship Group 1: Bethany Orvis, Middlebury (fifth); Group 7: Nathan Fefee, Bristol (first).
In the conformation classes, arranged according to age and breed of the animal, local 4-H’ers placed as follows:
Brown Swiss: Fall Calf, Matthew Ouellette, Weybridge (first); Spring Yearling Heifer, Nathan Fefee, Bristol (second); and Summer Yearling Heifer, Jonathan Flores-Torres, Bridport (third).
Holstein: Fall Yearling Heifer, Bethany Orvis, Middlebury (second); and Winter Yearling Heifer, Katelynn Ouellette, Vergennes (fourth).
To learn more about the Vermont 4-H dairy program, contact Wendy Sorrell, University of Vermont Extension 4-H livestock educator, at (802) 656-5418 or [email protected].