4-Hers Vie for Championships at State 4-H Dairy Show

TUNBRIDGE – Forty-four 4-Hers, ages 11-18, from eight Vermont counties, qualified for the 2022 State 4-H Dairy Show, held Aug. 14-15, at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds in Tunbridge.

University of Vermont (UVM) Extension 4-H sponsored the event, which was judged by Betsy Bullard from Turner, Maine. Each exhibitor was allowed to bring two animals, and many did, with 62 animals entered in the show.

For the fitting and showmanship classes, the judge awarded placements based on how well the 4-Her presented and handled his or her animal. The first-place winner in each of the age groups competed for the Senior (14-18) and Junior (11-13) championships.

Sarah Hill, Bristol (age 17), won the Senior Fitting and Showmanship Championship. Others in the running for this award were Keenan Thygesen, Tunbridge (age 18); Dylan Slack, Bethel (age 16); Gabriel Michaud, East Hardwick (age 15); and Elise Sanders, West Topsham (age 14).

Competing for the Junior Fitting and Showmanship Championship were Wyatt Chambers (age 13) and Sylvia Johnson (age 12), both from Tunbridge, and Dawson Michaud, East Hardwick (age 11). Sylvia was named the champion.

Both champions received a rosette ribbon and trophy, which was sponsored by Diane and Terry Norris, Shoreham, long-time supporters of this dairy show.

The 4-Hers also competed in conformation classes, arranged by breed and age of the animal. Scoring was based on the physical structure, condition and appearance of the animal.

Earning breed championship was: Holstein: Reserve Junior Champion, Gabriel Michaud, East Hardwick, with his winter calf.

To learn more about the UVM Extension 4-H dairy program, contact Wendy Sorrell, UVM Extension 4-H livestock educator, at wendy.sorrell@uvm.edu.