The Coliseum floor is reserved on Thursday evening for the youth showmanship contest. A record 424 enthusiastic competitors competed in three divisions where they showcased their dairy cattle presentation skills. (A separate fitting contest was held earlier this week on Sunday morning.)

Youth do not have to own the animal they take into the ring. In fact, there are several generous exhibitors who allow these young people to use their cattle in the showmanship contest.

Mikayla Endres of Lodi, Wis., topped the senior division, which included young people from ages 17 to 20 years old. Endres, who is 18-years-old, was presented the Keith King Award. David Crack, owner of Crackholm Holsteins, Richmond, Quebec, Canada, served as the senior division judge.

In the intermediate division, Taylor Vander Meulen, topped 191 other exhibitors. This 16-year-old hails from Brighton, Ontario, Canada, and earned the Howard Voegeli Award.

The winning junior exhibitor was 12-year-old Brianna Meyer of Chilton, Wis. She received the W. Terry Howard Award. The junior judge was Laura Phoenix of Far-Row Holsteins, in Woodville, Ontario, Canada. Contestants ranged from 9 years old to 12 years old.

Quebec juniors, siblings Kolton and Savannah Crack, both placed second in the intermediate and junior divisions. Savannah was a previous showmanship winner at Expo. Fellow countrywoman, Ashley Harvey, placed second in the senior division. She hails from the province of Ontario.

The top 15 individuals from each division are listed below.

Juniors (Ages 9-12):

1. Brianna Meyer, Chilton, Wis.

2. Kolton Crack, Richmond, Qué.

3. Ava Booth, Plymouth, Wis.

4. Mason Ziemba, Durhamville, N.Y.

5. Garrett Ulness, Valders, Wis.

6. Amelia Stone, New Palestine, Ind.

7. Sara Dorshorst, Marshfield, Wis.

8. Lilian Finke, London, Ohio

9. Brianne Vandoske, Cleveland, Wis.

10. Abigail Ard, Pulaski, Wis.

11. Ava Hebgen, Deforest, Wis.

12. Morgan Stone, New Palestine, Ind.

13. Wyatt Dorshorst, Marshfield, Wis.

14. Landree Fraley, Muncy, Pa.

15. Emma Paulson, Columbus, Wis.

Intermediate (Ages 13-16):

1. Taylor Vander Meulen, Brighton, Ont.

2. Savannah Crack, Richmond, Qué.

3. Adele Biasini, Morrisville, Vt.

4. Connor Erbsen, Lanark, Ill.

5. Julien-Charles Rousseau, Québec, Qué.

6. Zachary Paul, Worden, Ill.

7. Hailey Raymond, New Glarus, Wis.

8. Ashley Smith, Woodstock, Ont.

9. Brilee Tucker, Edmonton, Ky.

10. Cally Finley, Woodville, Ont.

11. Joseph Real, Georgia, Vt.

12. Kylie Nickels, Watertown, Wis.

13. Jared Abraham, Plymouth, Wis.

14. Sierra Omlin, Modesto, Calif.

15. Grace Howe, Waukon, Iowa

Senior (Ages 17-20):

1. Mikayla Endres, Lodi, Wis.

2. Ashley Harvey, Stayner, Ont.

3. Rebecca Doble, Cannington, Ont.

4. Mike Podschadly, Armstrong, B.C.

5. Bruce De Ruysscher, Fredrick, Md.

6. Katie Anderson, Victoria, Australia

7. Kristen Broege, Janesville, Wis.

8. Emily Mikel, Stafford, N.Y.

9. Summer Henschel, Chilton, Wis.

10. Caitlin Small, Huntington, Mass.

11. Alli Walker, Wisconsin Dells, Wis.

12. Elizabeth Acel, Glen Rock, Pa.

13. T.J. Wingert, Kent, Ill.

14. Sandra Krone, Fountainville, Pa.

15. Lydia Williams, Waterville, N.Y

13. T.J. Wingert, Kent, Ill.

14. Sandra Krone, Fountainville, Pa.

15. Lydia Williams, Waterville, N.Y.

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The author is the online media manager and is responsible for the website, webinars, and social media. A graduate of Modesto Junior College and Fresno State, she was raised on a California dairy and frequently blogs on youth programs and consumer issues.