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“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.
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
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.
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)
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.
