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Junior Holstein members celebrated their shared passion for the Holstein cow and the dairy industry during the 2023 National Holstein Convention Lexington, Kentucky. Held from June 23 to 27, 2023, over 300 Junior Holstein members attended the convention. These young dairy enthusiasts competed in contests, experienced tours, attended workshops, and made new connections throughout the week.

“Lexington proved to be the perfect back drop for Junior Holstein members to engage in friendly competition” says Kelli Dunklee, Holstein Association USA Event and Program Lead. “The variety of contests and activities throughout the week provided these future dairy leaders with countless opportunities to learn new things, gain lifelong friends, and have lots of fun!”

Prepared Public Speaking

Forty-seven youth members honed their presentation and speaking skills during the prepared public speaking competition. Speech topics ranged from farm stress to dairy innovation, to dairy breed history and milk marketing. Following are the results from each age division.

The top three individuals in the junior division of the Prepared Public Speaking competition are Cash McCauley, Michigan; Madalyn Troutman, Pennsylvania; and Savannah Judd, Massachusetts.

Junior Division (ages 9-13 as of January 1)

1st place: Cash McCauley, Michigan

2nd place: Madalyn Troutman, Pennsylvania

3rd place: Savannah Judd, Massachusetts

Intermediate Division (ages 14-17 as of January 1)

1st place: Samantha Justice, Missouri

2nd place: Lily Marshman, New York

3rd place: Madison Wiese, Wisconsin

Senior Division (ages 18-21 as of January 1)

1st place: Kylie Konyn, California

2nd place: Gabriella Taylor, New York

3rd place: Sara Reed, Pennsylvania

The top three individuals in the senior division of the Prepared Public Speaking Contest are Kylie Konyn, California; Gabriella Taylor, New York; and Sara Reed, Pennsylvania.

Folding Display Contest

Twenty-seven entries were submitted in this year's Folding Display competition. Participants create a free-standing display educating people about a dairy industry-related topic of their choice. Youth are divided into three age divisions, and each division has two categories - Scientific and Creative. Following are the results for each category.

Creative Division

Junior Division (ages 9-13 as of January 1)

1st place: Hailey Zook, Pennsylvania

2nd place: Trey Daubert, Virginia

3rd place: Aden Carter, Pennsylvania

Intermediate Division (ages 14-17 as of January 1)

1st place: Chelsea Empet, Pennsylvania

2nd place: Lauryn Irwin, Pennsylvania

3rd place: Kassidy Gantos, North Carolina

Scientific Division

Junior Division (ages 9-13 as of January 1)

1st place: Bryson Baldwin, North Carolina

2nd place: Kimber Hough, Pennsylvania

3rd place: Madeline Branch, North Carolina

Intermediate Division (ages 14-17 as of January 1)

1st place: Sophie Griswold, Pennsylvania

2nd place: Atley Shafer, Maryland

3rd place: Aiden Empet, Pennsylvania

Senior Division (ages 18-21 as of January 1)

1st place: Salem Sifford, Virginia

2nd place: Kristen Houser, Pennsylvania

3rd place: Cholee Roell, New Jersey

State Scrapbook

The state scrapbook contest gives each state the chance to tell the story of activities and events their Junior Holstein associations take part in each year. The books were judged on the cover, news clippings, photos organization, originality, and variety of activities.

1st place: Illinois

2nd place: New England

Digital State Scrapbook

State Junior Holstein Associations also had the opportunity to participate in the Digital Scrapbook Contest. This contest is judged on the same criteria as a traditional scrapbook, but entries must be presented on a computer or another digital format.

Heather Hodges, California; Aubree Topp and Carissa Pittmann, Ohio; and Katelyn Poitras, New England accept their awards in the State Digital Scrapbook competition at the National Junior Holstein Convention in Lexington, Kentucky.

1st place: Iowa

2nd place: California

3rd place: Missouri

4th place: Ohio

5th place: New England

State Banner

The state banner competition allows states to creatively showcase their associations, displayed throughout the week at the Convention. Judges assess the banners based on promotion of state, Holstein related, attractiveness, originality, and overall appearance.

1st place: Virginia

2nd place: California

3rd place: Michigan

Mission Membership

One state is recognized each year for increasing their membership. The honor is calculated on a percentage increase from January 1 to June 1 of the convention year. Minnesota took home the honor in 2023 for the second year in a row, with a membership increase of 24 new members.

NHWSO Awards Scholarships

Three Junior Holstein members were awarded scholarships by the National Holstein Women’s Scholarship Organization (NHWSO) during the National Junior Holstein Convention. This year’s recipients receiving scholarships were Emory Bewley, Doreen Dyt, and Irene Nielsen.

New Representative Elected to Junior Advisory Committee (JAC)

The 2023 Junior Advisory Committee youth representatives are Blake Wright, Brianna Meyer, Gabriella Taylor, Clarissa Ulness, Aubree Topp, and Caroline Arrowsmith.

Three new youth representatives were elected to the National Junior Advisory Committee (JAC) during the National Junior Forum. Gabriella Taylor was elected to the Area 1 position, Aubree Topp was elected to the Area 2 position, and Clarissa Ulness was elected to the At-Large position.

The JAC is the governing body of the Junior Association and oversees the organization's activities. Youth committee members are elected by the Junior membership at the National Junior Forum, and members serve two-year terms.

For more information about Junior Holstein Association’s youth programs, visit www.holsteinfoundation.org, or contact Kelli Dunklee, youth programs specialist, at 800.952.5200, ext. 4124, or by email.