Two local 4-Hers Attend National Dairy Conference
Fourteen Vermont 4-Hers with their two chaperones participated in the 2022 National 4-H Dairy Conference, held in Madison, Wisc., Oct. 2-5. They were (front row, left to right) Cindy Kayhart, Vergennes (chaperone); Sadie Ellner, Morristown; Morgan White, Whiting; Brailey Livingston, New Haven; Emma Seward, East Wallingford, (middle row) Joey Ferris, Braintree; Lincoln Michaud, East Hardwick; Philip Livingston, New Haven (chaperone); Erica Goodhue, Fairfield; Isabella Wilbur, Orwell; Michael Plouffe, Bridport, (back row) Dylan Slack, Bethel; Mason Livingston, New Haven; Andrew Lester, North Ferrisburgh; Haley Michaud, East Hardwick; Lorryn Trujillo, North Clarendon.
BURLINGTON – Two local 4-hers were among the 14 Vermonters and their chaperones who recently returned from Wisconsin where they participated in the 2022 National 4-H Dairy Conference. The 4-H’ers were among 200 outstanding 4-H dairy members, ages 15-18, from more than 30 states and Canadian provinces selected to attend this year’s conference.
The event, held in conjunction with the World Dairy Exposition in Madison, was held Oct. 2-5. The Vermont delegation extended their stay by a few extra days to spend time more at the expo to visit the exhibits and watch the dairy show competitions.
Local representatives were Haley and Lincoln Michaud, East Hardwick.
Throughout the week, the 4-H’ers toured several agricultural enterprises including ABS Global, Hoard’s Dairyman Magazine and its registered Guernsey farm, the National Dairy Shrine Museum and Jones Dairy, a centuries-old food company that produces sausages and other breakfast meats. Crave Brothers Farm, a 1,200-head dairy operation in Waterloo, Wisc., hosted the delegates for a farm tour, career fair, tailgate party and old-fashioned barn dance.
Some of the Vermont delegates to the 2022 National 4-H Dairy Conference in Wisconsin took a break while touring the World Dairy Exposition. They are (front row, left to right) Michael Plouffe, Bridport (standing); Cindy Kayhart, Vergennes (chaperone); Lorryn Trujillo, North Clarendon; Erica Goodhue, Fairfield; Emma Seward, East Wallingford; Isabella Wilbur, Orwell; Morgan White, Whiting; Andrew Lester, North Ferrisburgh, (back row) Brailey Livingston; Sadie Ellner, Morristown; Haley Michaud, East Hardwick.
The conference also provided an opportunity to network with other 4-H’ers passionate about dairy; look into career options in dairy production, processing and marketing; and learn about the dairy industry from leading experts. In addition, participants took part in a dairy skill-a-thon and explored the science of dairy foods and ways to be a strong advocate for the dairy industry.
Selection for this national opportunity was based on a number of factors including outstanding dairy project record books, participation in local and state 4-H dairy events and overall excellence in the 4-H dairy project. Delegates also had to be enrolled in the dairy project for a minimum of three years.
