The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.

Teams with youth representing Allegan, Clinton and Ottawa counties were the first place winners in this year’s dairy quiz bowl contest held during Michigan 4-H Youth Dairy Days, an annual dairy youth activity held in conjunction with Michigan Dairy Expo. The 20th annual expo took place July 17-21 at the Michigan State University (MSU) Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education in East Lansing.

The Michigan Youth Dairy Days dairy quiz bowl competition tests the dairy knowledge of youth teams, who are awarded points for correctly answered questions. Though the majority of questions focus on dairy cattle health, nutrition and production practices, a wide range of questions can be asked. Teams compete in a series of one-on-one, quiz-off, double elimination rounds until the top team is chosen.

Dairy quiz bowl contestants can compete in one of three age divisions: novice (ages 9-11), junior (ages 11-14) or senior (ages 15-19). This year, five teams competed in the novice, 15 teams in the junior division, and 13 teams in the senior division.

The first place team in the novice division heralded from Clinton County. Team members were: Joey Domecq, of Rives Junction; Willow Evans and Jordan Hicks, of St. Johns; and Landon Thelen, of Westphalia. The second place team was from Allegan County. Team members were: Anna Geerlings, of Hamilton; Lexus Vandenburg, of Plainwell; and Colby Tucker and Sonja Ybema, of Hopkins. The combined team of Clinton/Ottawa/Washtenaw counties placed third. Team members were: Joey Arens, of Portland; Tarrah Barnes, of Zeeland; Julia Corwin, of Saline; and Harris Evans, of St. Johns. In fourth, was the team representing Huron, Isabella, and Sanilac counties: Dori Battel, of Cass City; Evelyn Daskum, of Ubly; Eli Deters, of Fremont; Logan Welter, of Peck; and Megan Wilson, of Blanchard. The joint team from Branch and Iosco counties finished fifth. Its team members were: Sebastian and Jayden Brenneman, of Coldwater; Gabriella Nelkie, of Whittemore; and Maddie Pish, of Quincy.

The team from Ottawa County was the winner in the junior category. Team members were: Delbert Smith, of Hudsonville; Joshua and Josiah Tripp, of Dorr; and Jake Vandermolen, of Allendale. Members of the second place team, which represented Allegan County, were: Sam Geerlings, of Hamilton; Caleb Tucker and Martin Ybema, of Hopkins; and Tristan Vandenburg, of Plainwell. In third place was the Washtenaw County team: Jacob and Jared Bunn, of Manchester; and Cameron Corwin and Katie Polzin, of Saline. In fourth place was Isabella County with Cristin Theisen, of Mt. Pleasant, and Abigail, Emily and Katie Wilson, all of Blanchard. Branch County Team A placed fifth. Its team consisted of: Gerl Pish, of Quincy; Hope Shilling, of Reading; and Hayley and Madison Wineland, of Coldwater.

Allegan County won the senior division. The winning team members were: Kylie Cook, of Allegan; Shannon Good and Anna Wehler, of Caledonia; and Katrina Tucker and Casey Ybema, of Hopkins. Clinton County Team B placed second in the senior division. Team members were: Miriam Cook, of Pewamo; Amber Hicks, of St. Johns; and Kyle Schafer and Joe Simon, of Westphalia. Youth from Shiawassee County placed third: Alexis Butcher, of Owosso; Madelyn Chisley and James Place, of Perry; and Megan Crevier, of Corunna. Clinton County Team A was fourth, with team members: Jacob Arens, of Portland; Miriah Dershem and Cheyenne Jakus, of St. Johns; and Jessie Nash, of Elsie. Ottawa County placed fifth. Team members were: Chelsea Barnes, Brittany Dreyer, and Ashton Geurink, of Zeeland; and Caleb Shearer, of Hudsonville.

As the youth-centered portion of the Michigan Dairy Expo, the largest annual dairy event in the state, Michigan 4-H Youth Dairy Days offers young people interested in the dairy industry opportunities to compete for premiums, ribbons and scholarships in various educational activities, including dairy quiz bowls, dairy management contests, dairy cattle judging competitions and the Dairy Days youth show. This year, nearly 200 youth from around the state participated in one or more of the educational competitions, and winners may go on to represent Michigan in national competitions.

Awards and other recognition during Michigan 4-H and Youth Dairy Days, along with other dairy youth and judging program activities conducted throughout the year, are made possible through the generous support of numerous businesses, organizations and individuals. These include: ABS Global, AIS Equipment, the Branch County Dairy Organization, the CHS Foundation, the Clinton County 4-H Dairy Council, Dairy Farmers of America, Dairyland Laboratories, Inc., the District 1 and District VI Holstein associations, Drs. Joe and Denise Domecq, GreenStone Farm Credit Services, Hillsdale County Dairy Leaders, Ira Krupp, the Michigan Dairy Memorial Foundation, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Michigan Farm Bureau, the Michigan Holstein Association, the Michigan Jersey Cattle Club, the Michigan Milk Producers Association, the Michigan Purebred Dairy Cattle Association, the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, the MSU Dairy Club, the MSU Dairy Cattle Judging Team, the MSU Department of Animal Science, MOO-ville Creamery, NorthStar Cooperative, the Osceola County 4-H Dairy Boosters, the Ottawa County 4-H Dairy Committee, Rodney Pennock, Purina Animal Nutrition, the Shiawassee County 4-H Dairy Association, the United Dairy Industry of Michigan, and the Vitality Dairy crew.

For more information about the Michigan 4-H dairy youth program, contact Melissa Elischer at 517-432-4306. For more information about the Michigan Dairy Expo, contact Dr. Joe Domecq at 517-353-7855.

The 2018 Michigan Dairy Expo is scheduled for July 16-20 at MSU.