Michigan 4-H dairy judging team Europe bound
EAST LANSING, Mich.
For the third time in four years, the Michigan 4-H dairy judging team is ranked among the elite of youth dairy judging thanks to a second-place overall finish in this year’s National 4-H Dairy Judging Contest held during World Dairy Expo in early October in Madison. The second-place win earns the team an invitation to travel to Europe.
The invitation to travel to Europe is extended to the top three placing teams in their respective divisions – 4-H, postsecondary and collegiate – at the annual World Dairy Expo Dairy Judging Contest. Most recently, the 2006 and 2007 Michigan 4-H and the 2006 Michigan State University (MSU) Ag Tech, postsecondary, dairy judging teams earned invitations for the trip, which they made in June 2008. The first Michigan 4-H team to win an invitation was the 2004 team, who traveled to Europe in the summer of 2006.
Maryland and New York also earned invitations to Europe with first- and third-place finishes, respectively. Ohio placed fourth, and Minnesota was fifth. Twenty-six teams competed in this year’s competition.
Members of this year’s second-place National 4-H dairy judging team were Katie Arndt, Clinton County 4-H member and MSU advertising freshman from St. Johns; Lauren Bush, Genesee County 4-H member and MSU animal science freshman from Swartz Creek; Sarah Mann, Hillsdale County 4-H member and MSU animal science freshman from Camden; and Eric Sneller, Huron County 4-H member and MSU animal science sophomore from Sebewaing. The Michigan 4-H’ers also finished second as a team for oral reasons.
“The trip to Europe is a well-earned and deserved accomplishment,” says Joe Domecq, specialist in the MSU Department of Animal Science and dairy judging coach. “This trip is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and, in some cases, it might be the only opportunity that some of these students will have to travel to Europe. The participants will learn about issues affecting the dairy industry on an international level, be exposed to European dairy practices and meet a lot of wonderful people. In addition, they will have a chance to visit historical sites, museums and other attractions.”
The 2009 Michigan 4-H team at World Dairy Expo was anchored by Arndt, who placed second overall and third overall in oral reasons. She was the 10th highest individual in Brown Swiss, eighth overall in the Guernsey breed and 12th in Holsteins.
Bush was 13th overall and the seventh highest-placing individual in oral reasons. She placed second in the Ayrshire breed and seventh in Holsteins.
Mann ended up 14th overall and in oral reasons, and was fifth in Holsteins and 12th in Jerseys.
As a team, Michigan placed sixth in the Ayrshire breed, eighth in Brown Swiss, second in Holsteins and fourth in Jerseys.
Domecq is proud of the team’s performance and knows that having the chance to travel to Europe will be an awesome opportunity for the students. He credited the youths’ active involvement in 4-H at the local and state levels with helping them learn the skills necessary to achieve this accomplishment.
“I can honestly tell you that, because of these young people’s committed involvement in Michigan Dairy Expo and other 4-H dairy-related events over the years, these students were able to cultivate and hone the skills that prepared them to place well at the national level and earn the opportunity to go on a trip like this,” he said.
Sponsors for the MSU and Michigan 4-H dairy judging programs are ABS Global Inc., NorthStar Cooperative, Michigan Holstein Association, Michigan District 1 and District 6 Holstein associations, Michigan Jersey Cattle Club, United Dairy Industry of Michigan, Michigan Milk Producers Association, and Michigan Dairy Memorial Foundation.
For more information about MSU and Michigan 4-H dairy judging programs, contact Domecq at domecqjo@msu.edu or call 517-353-7855.
