2011 Merle Howard Winner: Karen Anderson, Minnesota

Karen Anderson, a talented Guernsey youth from Lester Prairie, Minn., is the eighth winner of the Merle Howard Award. The honor is presented to the top junior exhibitor at World Dairy Expo. With Anderson is Steve Howard, Merle Howard's son.

The junior show at World Dairy Expo continues to grow. In 2004, the first-ever Merle Howard Award which recognizes the top junior exhibitor. The youth honored with this award exhibits outstanding skills in fitting, showmanship, and a passion for the dairy industry.

The award is given in honor of the 1954 Klussendorf winner Merle Howard. Howard was a long-time World Dairy Expo volunteer, who also served as herd manager for Mooseheart Farms, as Holstein classifier, and later in the sales and export business. He was on the first board of directors of National Dairy Shrine and is only one of six people to have won its 4-E Award for outstanding service.