February 15 is the deadline for the Pennsylvania Jersey Cattle Association (PJCA)'s youth awards. These awards include the Youth Achievement Award, First Year Project Award, Youth Production Contest, Scrapbook Contest, Scholarship Award, Jersey Queen Contest, Speech Contest and Dairy Jeopardy Contest. All Pennsylvania Jersey youth are eligible to participate in the youth activities sponsored by the PJCA if they or their families are members of the PJCA. The Pennsylvania Jersey juniors represent one of the largest, most active state junior Jersey associations in the country.
Join the excitement of the Jersey breed and apply today for a number of these awards and contests. Prizes are awarded to the winner of the Achievement, First Year Project Award, Youth Production, Scrapbook, Scholarship and Jersey Queen contests, and to the top three participants of the Speech and Dairy Jeopardy contest. This year's meeting will be held in Clarion, Pa., March 4 and 5, 2016.
Youth Achievement Awards
The Youth Achievement Awards are given to recognize the youth's accomplishments with Registered Jersey cattle. Applicants must be the owner of one or more registered Jersey cattle and between the ages of 9 and 20, as of January 1, 2016. Awards will be given in three different age categories: Junior division, 9 to 12 years of age; Intermediate division, 13 to 16 years of age; and Senior division, 17 to 20 years of age.
First Year Project Award
An outstanding First Year Project Award contest is open to active Jersey members of an organized 4-H club, who are 8 to 12 years of age. Only juniors that completed their first project year in 2015 are eligible to apply for this award. Contestants are required to submit the application along with a handwritten story entitled, "Highlights of My First Jersey Project Year."
Youth Production Contest
Junior owners of Jersey cattle are eligible to compete in the state's youth production contest. Jersey juniors (ages 8 to 20) can nominate their registered Jerseys on official DHI or DHIA test for these awards. To submit an entry, members must present an official individual cow record that bears an issue date from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015. This form is required to give contest officials a 305 2x mature equivalent value for the records submitted. All submitted records will be judged on mature equivalent (ME) protein production, with the top record earning the Jacob Brunges Production Award. Contestants are only allowed to enter one record per year.
Scrapbook Awards
The PJCA selects outstanding scrapbook awards in three divisions: Junior division, 8 to 11 years of age; Intermediate division, 12 to 15 years of age; and Senior division, 16 to 20 years of age. The scrapbooks are to pertain to the contestants' Jersey project(s) during the 2015 calendar year. All scrapbooks will be evaluated on both the quality and quantity of their contents along with the artistic skill and creativeness shown in their development. Scrapbook must be completed solely by the applicant.
Scholarship Awards
Two $500 scholarships will be awarded to Jersey youth attending a college or who are high school students planning to enroll in a college program within one year of high school graduation. Applicants must have been actively involved with Jersey cattle. Previous scholarship recipients are eligible to re-apply for these scholarships.
Jersey Queen Contest
Pennsylvania Jersey breeders annually select a state Jersey Queen to represent the Jersey breed at various functions and events throughout the state. The Queen Contest will be held in conjunction with the junior recognition banquet at the annual meeting. To be eligible to compete, the Pennsylvania Jersey Queen contestants must live in Pennsylvania, be a daughter or granddaughter of a Jersey breeder or own one or more Jerseys, and be a member or have a family membership to the PJCA. Contestants must be at least 16 years of age, but not older than 22, on January 1, 2016.
Speech Contest
Youth attending the annual meeting can compete in the speech contest by delivering a speech that focuses on any phase of Jersey business, including current affairs and dairy industry trends. Judges will evaluate the speaker's personal interest in the topic, as well as its appropriateness for a general dairy audience. Participants will compete for prizes in one of three age divisions: Junior division, 8 to 11 years of age; Intermediate division, 12 to 15 years of age; and Senior division, 16 to 20 years of age. Winners of each division will be asked to deliver their award winning speech at the youth banquet.
Dairy Jeopardy
The Dairy Jeopardy contest is a dairy knowledge competition that gives youth the opportunity to compete as individuals in two age categories: Junior division, 8 to 13 years of age; and Senior division, 14 to 20 years of age. Similar to the popular television game show, contestants are asked questions about the dairy industry. The contest is coordinated and conducted by the Penn State Dairy Science Club.
Submissions
To be eligible to apply for the awards youth must be a PJCA member or their parents must have an active membership. To become a member please visit the PJCA's website http://pennsylvaniajerseys.usjersey.com.
Contact Renée Norman-Kenny at norman.renee@gmail.com
1.12.2016