The annual Wisconsin Junior Holstein Convention was hosted by the Manitowoc and Calumet County Juniors in Manitowoc, Wis., Jan. 6-8. More than 400 Holstein members, chaperones, and volunteers were in attendance to help make the event a success.
Throughout the convention, junior members participated in numerous contests including speaking, arts and crafts, photography, Dairy Jeopardy and Dairy Bowl. The largest competition of the weekend was Dairy Bowl, in which 34 junior, 18 senior, and six rookie teams competed.
More than 40 volunteers helped coordinate Dairy Bowl matches, Dairy Jeopardy contests, and the speaking contest. The Manitowoc/Calumet team took first place in the senior Dairy Bowl contest with Sheboygan County coming in second place. The winner of the junior division was Shawano County with Brown County taking second. Team members on the senior Manitowoc/Calumet team include Clarissa and Garrett Ulness, Lauren Siemers and Brianna Meyer. The Shawano County junior team consisted of Madison and Logan Harbaugh, Addison Fischer and Lydia Gwidt. The Manitowoc/Calumet and Shawano County teams will represent Wisconsin at the National Holstein Convention in Lexington, Kentucky in June 2023.
Rounding out the top five for the senior division were Fond du Lac County, Wood County, and Iowa County respectively. Finishing in third through fifth place in the junior division were Fond du Lac County Team 2, Dodge County Team 1 and Sheboygan County Team 1.
All juniors at the convention had the chance to compete in the Dairy Jeopardy competition. The top competitor in each of three age brackets has the opportunity to compete at the national level. Winning the junior division was Cameron Ryan of Fond du Lac County, second went to Abby Meyer of Manitowoc/Calumet County and Alivia Wiese of Brown County took third. In the intermediate division, Madison Wiese topped the group with Macie Abraham, Sheboygan County, and Jacob Harbaugh, Shawano County, placing second and third, respectively. Kelsey Hardy of Iowa County was the winning contestant in the senior division, with Lauren Siemers of Manitowoc/Calumet County placing second and Sam Mess of Fond du Lac taking home third place.
In the speaking contest, Wisconsin can send up to three delegates in each division to compete at the National Convention. To compete, youth must prepare a speech on a topic related to the dairy industry at a length assigned to their specific age division. Heading to the National Convention this year in the junior division are Vivian Lichty of Dodge County, Henry Gartman of Sheboygan County, and Eli Schommer of St. Croix County. In the intermediate division, Madison Wiese of Brown County, took home top honors. Madeline Hensel of Wood County placed second and Abby Meyer of Manitowoc/Calumet County placed third. Emily Stumpf of Fond du Lac County placed first, Ava Booth of Sheboygan County placed second and Courtney Glenna of Polk County was third.
On Saturday evening, the annual banquet was held to honor outstanding juniors in the association. Matthew Gunst of Dodge County and Lauren Siemers of Manitowoc/Calumet County claimed the most prestigious honor, being named Outstanding Holstein Boy and Girl, respectively. These individuals have excelled in their Holstein projects and have been an asset to the association and dairy industry as a whole. Also receiving honors were 10 other Distinguished Junior Members (DJM), 14 Young Distinguished Junior Member winners (YDJM), and 13 Twelve & Under Recognition winners, all of which excelled in their Wisconsin Holstein activities in 2022.
In addition to Gunst and Siemers, 2022 Distinguished Junior Members included Ashley Brandel, Jefferson County; Zoe Ertel, Sheboygan County; Courtney Glenna, Polk County; Jacob Harbaugh, Shawano County; Madeline Hensel, Wood County; Evan Jauquet, Shawano County; Chloe LaCrosse, Door County; Sam Mess, Fond du Lac County; Ainsley Noble, Grant County; and Emily Stumpf, Fond du Lac County.
The Young Distinguished Junior Holstein Members included Jaron Begert, Clark County; Justin Brandel, Jefferson County; Katie Brandel, Jefferson County; Alison Gartman, Sheboygan County; Cathryn Gunst, Waupaca-Waushara County; Christopher Gunst, Waupaca-Waushara County; Vivian Lichty, Dodge County; Leah Mess, Fond du Lac County; Laney Neuser, Manitowoc/Calumet County; Ella Raatz, Clark County; Cameron Ryan, Fond du Lac County; Dylan Ryan, Fond du Lac County; Stella Schmocker, Jefferson County; and Madison Wiese, Brown County
Lastly, Twelve & Under Member Recognition was awarded to Royce Booth, Sheboygan County; Evan Brey, Door County; Kayla Buttles, Grant County; Elise Gilbertson, Iowa County; Makenna Gilbertson, Iowa County; Madison Harbaugh, Shawano County; Adella Loehr, Fond du Lac County; Natalie Mauk, Sheboygan County; Lexi Metzler, Vernon County; Braelyn Sarbacker, Dane County; Madison Sarbacker, Rock County; Landon Wendorf, Dodge County; and Alivia Wiese, Brown County.
Of the exceptional youth recognized, four representatives in the DJM and the YDJM categories were selected to submit award forms to the national level with hopes of being honored at the National Convention. Ainsley Noble, Lauren Siemers, Madeline Hensel and Courtney Glenna were all chosen to represent Wisconsin as DJMs. The YDJM delegates include Katie Brandel, Christopher and Cathryn Gunst and Dylan Ryan.
The 2023 Wisconsin Holstein Princess and Attendant were also crowned at the banquet on Saturday evening. This year, Ava Booth of Sheboygan County will serve as the WHA Princess, and Aubrey Behling of Marathon County will join her as the WHA Princess Attendant.
The convention concluded Sunday morning with an awards breakfast and the annual business meeting, where four new Junior Activities Committee (JAC) members were elected. The JAC group is responsible for coordinating and overseeing all junior events within the Wisconsin Holstein Association. Elected to two-year terms included Paige Sweatt of the District 5 group for the southwest district, Madeline Hensel of Wood County for the northwest district, Ashley Brandel of Jefferson County for the southeast, and Jacob Harbaugh of Shawano County for the northeast district. These members join second-year members Brianna Meyer of Manitowoc/Calumet, Evan Hathaway of Iowa County, Lauren Breunig of Dane County and Emma Bangart of Wood County.
Categories: Wisconsin, Rural Lifestyle