Emma Townsend, LaFayette, Ind., has been crowned the 67th National Jersey Queen.
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.
Emma was presented with the Charlene Nardone Crown by outgoing National Jersey Queen Clancey Krahn, Albany, Ore., on November 10, 2024, at the start of the National Jersey Jug Futurity.
She will represent Jersey breeders for the next year, participating in events such as the 157th Annual Meeting of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA), the World Dairy Expo, and the 73rd All American Jersey Shows & Sales.
First alternate Sophia Bollenbacher, Argos, Ind., and second alternate Emma Vos, Maribel, Wis., also serve on the court with Townsend.
The National Jersey Queen contest lasted three days, and seven outstanding young women from across the country competed for the coveted crown.
Townsend is a junior at Purdue University majoring in public health and on a pre-med tract. Upon graduating, she plans to attend medical school while remaining passionate about the Jersey industry and breeding productive and elite cattle.
“The Jersey cow is the answer for now and in the future to issues confronting the dairy industry,” said Townsend. “Jerseys naturally produce high-quality milk that is more energy and protein-dense than other breeds. Their milk is more nutritionally dense for consumers, increasing the yield percentages of cheese and butter for manufacturers, bringing significant value to dairy farmers.”
Emma serves as president of the Purdue Dairy Club and is a member of the American Jersey Cattle Association and Indiana Junior Jersey Association. She attended Jersey Youth Academy in 2023, serves on the All American Junior Activities Committee, and has participated in the Pot O’Gold Production Contest.
She will compete competitively with the Purdue Dairy Judging Team beginning in 2025. In fact, one of her life goals is to judge the National Jersey Jug Futurity.
Sophia Bollenbacher is a junior at Purdue University studying animal science. She is an active member of the dairy club and Sigma Alpha professional agricultural sorority. In addition to her school activities, Bollenbacher has also participated nationally with her Jerseys. She is an alumnus of Jersey Youth Academy, top 10 in the national achievement contest, and a multi-year National Jersey Youth Production Contest award winner.
“Advocating for the dairy industry has always been important to me,” said Bollenbacher. “I am proud to advocate for the sustainability of the Jersey cow. Many people don’t realize the dairy industry has been ‘green before green was cool.’ Over the years, Jerseys eat less, excrete less, and take up less space than other breeds while remaining efficient athletes.”
Sophia had a strong weekend in Louisville, winning the Premier Breeder and Exhibitor banners of The All American Junior Jersey Show.
Emma Vos, the second alternate, is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studying agricultural and applied economics and dairy science. After graduating, she hopes to earn a master's degree in ag business. She was the 2023 Fred Stout Experience recipient of the Jersey Marketing Service internship. She received the Walter and Joyce Owens Family Scholarship twice from the AJCA. She is a graduate of Jersey Youth Academy and was named the 2023 National Jersey Youth Achievement winner.
“The Jersey cow has so much to offer through her high-component, nutrient-dense milk,” said Vos. “From the producer to the consumer, the Jersey cow has proven to be the most economically friendly, and her milk is one of the most wholesome, nutritious products for consumers.”
The Queen and her court presented awards for the National Jersey Jug Futurity and The 72nd All American Jersey Cow Show.
The Charlene Nardone National Jersey Queen Fund provided scholarships of $500, $300 and $200 to the Queen and two alternates.
For more information, follow the National Jersey Queen program on Facebook @USJerseyQueen.
The American Jersey Cattle Association, organized in 1868, compiles and maintains animal identification and performance data on Jersey cattle and provides services that support genetic improvement and greater profitability through increasing the value of and demand for Registered Jersey™ cattle and genetics, and Jersey milk and milk products. For more information on the association’s complete line of services for dairy business owners, visit the website at www.USJersey.com or connect at //Facebook.com/USJersey.
