BARABOO, Wis. — The annual Wisconsin Junior Holstein Convention was hosted by the Wood County juniors in Stevens Point, Wis. at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Convention Center, January 5-7, 2018. More than 400 Holstein members, chaperones, and volunteers were in attendance to help make the weekend a success.
Throughout the convention junior members participated in numerous contests, including speaking, arts and crafts, photography, Dairy Jeopardy and Dairy Bowl. The largest competition of the weekend was Dairy Bowl, in which 36 junior, 19 senior, and 6 rookie teams competed.
More than 50 volunteers helped coordinate Dairy Bowl matches, Dairy Jeopardy contests, and the speaking contest. The Manitowoc/Calumet County team took first place in the junior Dairy Bowl contest with Lafayette County coming in second place. The winner of the senior division was Polk County with Shawano County taking second. Team members on the junior Manitowoc/Calumet County team include Clarissa Ulness, Garrett Ulness, Lauren Siemers and Brianna Meyer. The Polk County senior team consisted of Kristi Getschel, Mikayla Peper, Marie Haase and Hailey Clausen.
Front – coaches Patti Hurtgen and Cody Getschel (missing coach Gwen Dado)
Back – Kristi Getschel, Hailey Clausen, Mikayla Peper and Marie Haase
Rounding out the top five for the junior division were Polk, Dodge and Sheboygan counties, in third, fourth and fifth, respectively. Finishing in third through fifth place in the senior division were Door County, Outagamie/Calumet County and Iowa County.
All juniors at convention had the chance to compete in the Dairy Jeopardy competition. The top competitor in each of three age brackets has the opportunity to compete at the national level. Brianna Meyer of Manitowoc/Calumet placed first in the junior jeopardy division with Maddie Hensel of Wood County and Emma Paulson of Dodge County coming in second and third, respectively. The top intermediate individual was Lauren Siemers of Manitowoc County. Marie Haase of Polk County placed second and Coltin Coffeen of Brown County, third. Jake Siemers, Manitowoc County, was the top senior individual with second going to Dawson Nickels of Dodge County and third to Summer Henschel of Calumet County.
In the speaking contest, Wisconsin can send up to three delegates in each division to compete at National Convention. To compete, youth must prepare a speech on a topic related to the dairy industry at a length assigned to their specific age division. Heading to National Convention this year in the junior division are Christopher Gunst, Waushara County, Sydney Gwidt, Shawano County and Ava Endres, Dane County. In the intermediate division, top honors went to Mae Buttles, St. Croix County, with second and third going to Molly Olstad, Dane County, and Kaitlin Neu of Dodge County, respectively. Emily Steger, Crawford County, Allie Breunig, Dane County and Mason Jauquet, Shawano County, took the top three for the senior division.
On Saturday evening, the annual banquet was held to honor outstanding juniors in the Association. Joseph Opsal of Dane County and Carley Krull of Jefferson County claimed the most prestigious honor, being named Outstanding Holstein Boy and Girl. These individuals have excelled in their Holstein programs and have been an asset to the Association and dairy industry as a whole. Also receiving honors were 16 other Distinguished Junior Members, 11 Young Distinguished Junior Member winners, and 12 Twelve & Under Recognition winners, all of which excelled in their Wisconsin Holstein activities in 2017.
Front – Ainsley Noble, Kenadee Weigel, Campbell Booth, Katie Brandel
Back – Christopher Gunst, Elizabeth Gunst, Cathryn Gunst, Payton Calvert, Gina Frisle, Kaydence Hodorff, Dylan Ryan
In addition to Opsal and Krull, 2017 Distinguished Junior Holstein Members (DJM) included Allison Breunig, Dane County; Jenna Broege, Rock County; Kelsey Cramer, Green County; Carmen Haack, Shawano County; Kalista and Kaianne Hodorff, Fond du Lac County; Rachel McCullough, Green County; Samuel Minch, Wood County; Austin Nauman, Monroe County; Dawson Nickels, Dodge County; Nicole Pralle, Clark County; Lindsey Sarbacker, Dane County; Ryan Smith, Green County; Brooke Trustem, Rock County; Alli Walker, Columbia County; and Danielle Warmka, Dodge County.
Back – Carley Krull, Lindsey Sarbacker, Danielle Warmka, Dawson Nickels, Carmen Haack, Alli Walker, Allie Breunig, Nicole Pralle, Kalista Hodorff, Rachel McCullough, Kaianne Hodorff, Brooke Trustem
The Young Distinguished Junior Holstein Members (YDJM) included Colton Brandel, Jefferson County; Nicole Broege, Rock County; McKenzie and Madison Calvert, Layfayette County; Coltin Coffeen, Brown County; Eliza Endres, Dane County; Matthew Gunst, Dodge County; Hannah Hockerman, Marquette County; Drew and Ainsley Noble, Grant County; and Samantha Pitterle, Dodge County.
Back – Nicole Broege, Matthew Gunst, Hannah Hockerman, Drew Noble, Coltin Coffeen, McKenzie Calvert, Madison Calvert
Lastly, Twelve & Under Member Recognition was awarded to Campbell Booth, Sheboygan County; Ashley Brandel, Jefferson County; Payton Calvert, Lafayette County; Gina Frisle, Barron County, Elizabeth Gunst; Dodge County, Cathryn and Christopher Gunst, Waushara County; Kaydence Hodorff, Fond du Lac County; Macie Noble, Grant County; Dylan Ryan, Fond du Lac County; Cole Sarbacker, Dane County; and Kenadee Weigel, Grant County.
Of the exceptional youth recognized, four representatives in the DJM and the YDJM categories were selected to submit award forms to the national level with hopes of being honored at the National Convention. Samuel Minch, Dawson Nickels, Joseph Opsal and Danielle Warmka were all chosen to represent Wisconsin as DJMs. The YDJM delegates include Eliza Endres, Matthew Gunst, Samantha Pitterle and Hannah Hockerman.
The 2018 Wisconsin Holstein Princess and Attendant were also crowned at the banquet on Saturday evening. This year, Allison Breunig of Dane County will serve as the WHA Princess, and Brooke Trustem of Rock County will join her as the WHA Princess Attendant.
Special recognition is given to youth leaders that have been nominated by youth in the Junior Holstein Association and selected by the Junior Activities Committee. This year’s WHY (Wisconsin Holstein Youth) Friends were Angie Ulness of Manitowoc County in the five year and under division, and Heather Jauquet of Shawano County in the more than five years division.
Wisconsin Holstein awarded more than $16,000 in scholarships this year, and an auction was held to raise funds for future awards. Donated items auctioned included UW-Madison Men’s Basketball tickets donated by Corey Geiger and Krista Knigge, another pair of men’s basketball tickets donated by the Rob Rippchen family, a stay at the Dr. Daluge’s Ski House by Rick and Peggy Daluge, a session from Farmgirl Photography donated by Danae Bauer, a Treasure Quest ticket donated by WHA, a pair of Green Bay Packer 2018 tickets donated by Kevin Jorgensen, a pedal tractor donated by Farmers Implement of Mineral Point and a gift certificate to Trans Ova. Funds from these items are put into the WHA scholarship fund, and $3,925 was added this year. High school seniors, short course, and two and four-year college students that are members of WHA are all eligible for these scholarships.
Throughout the convention, youth were recognized for other outstanding achievements, including Junior Progressive Breeder and Long Range Production animals producing 100,000 to over 200,000 pounds of milk over their lifetime. Those receiving Junior Progressive Breeder Awards include Colton, Ashley, Katie and Justin Brandel, Jefferson County; McKenna Coffeen, Brown County; Nathan Cordes, Barron County; Matthew Kramer, Fond du Lac County; Riley Miller, Rock County; Courtney Moser, Vernon County; Geneva and Julie Nunes, Chippewa County; Joseph Opsal, Dane County; Brooke, Dane and Luke Trustem, Rock County; and Clarissa Ulness, Manitowoc County.
Long Range Production owners of cows include Allison Breunig of Dane County, McKenna Coffeen of Brown County, Nathan Cordes of Barron County, Matthew Kramer of Fond du Lac County, Riley Miller of Rock County, Courtney Moser of Vernon County, Julie and Geneva Nunes of Chippewa County, Joseph Opsal of Dane County, Christopher and Cathryn Gunst of Waupaca County, Nicole Pralle of Clark County, Emily Stumpf of Fond du Lac County, Brooke, Dane and Luke Trustem of Rock County and Collin Wille of Barron County.
The Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association awards interested juniors the opportunity to travel to an area of the state to tour farms and learn from their dairy operations. This Farm Tour award was given to 12 recipients, including Geneva Nunes of Chippewa County, Benjamin Kronberg of Rock County, Courtney Moser of Vernon County, McKenna Coffeen of Brown County, Eric Wachtendonk of Chippewa, Summer Henschel of Calumet County, Madelynn Gwidt of Shawano County, Hannah and Fritzy Ullom of Chippewa County, Kaianne and Kalista Hodorff of Fond du Lac County and Claire Olson of Door County.
The convention concluded Sunday morning with an awards breakfast and the annual business meeting, where four new Junior Activities Committee (JAC) members were elected. The JAC group is responsible for coordinating and overseeing all junior events within the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association. Selected this year for the southwest district was Emma Buss of Lafayette County, Hannah Ullom of Chippewa County for the northwest district, Joshua Gerbitz of Rock County for the southeast, and Mason Jauquet for the northeast district. These members will serve a two-year term as JAC’s, and join second-year members Carley Krull of Jefferson County, Jessica Steger of Crawford County, Caleb Hamm of Waupaca County and Samuel Minch of Wood County.
The contest room is a fun and great way to show off projects done by junior members throughout the year. In the advertising contest, members submit advertisements they ran in the Wisconsin Holstein News or something they designed at home on their own. The winner from the junior division was Jacob and Logan Harbaugh from Shawano County with Kaelyn and Kenadee Weigel, Grant County and Lauren Siemers, Manitowoc County coming in second and third, respectively. The Weigels also received the People’s Choice Award. Cole and Clayton Mahlkuch, Green County, took first in the senior division with Elise Bleck, Sheboygan County in second and Brooke Trustem, Rock County, in third. Trustem also received the People’s Choice Award.
In the photography contest’s junior division of farm people photos, Christopher Gunst, Waushara County took first. Second and People’s Choice went to Kenadee Weigel of Grant County, and third went to Natalie Roe from Green County. Joseph Opsal, Dane County, took first, second and People’s Choice in the senior division and Paige Nelson, Pierce County, took third.
In photography farm scenes category, Kenadee Weigel, Grant County, took first place, Gunnar Sperle, Jefferson County, was second, and Katie Biese, Brown County was third in the junior division. People’s Choice went to Ainsley Noble from Grant County. First in the senior division was Hannah Nelson from Pierce County with second and third going to Riley Anderson from Pierce County. Paige Nelson, also from Pierce County took the People’s Choice award.
Wrapping up the photography contest was the farm animals category. In the junior division Kaelyn Weigel, Grant County, placed first, Kenadee Weigel, Grant County, was second and third place and People’s Choice went to Lauren Siemers from Manitowoc County. Joesph Ospal, Dane County, took first, second and the People’s Choice in the senior division while Kelsey Cramer, Green County, placed third.
The juniors got creative in the drawing and painting contest, and taking top honors in the junior division were Tahmara Hendrickson from Vernon County who also received People’s Choice, Sydney Gwidt from Shawano County, and Madeline Hensel from Wood County. In the senior division Amanda Gehrke, Wood County, took first; Jenna Broege, Rock County, placed second; and Hannah Nelson, Pierce County, was third.
Also bringing out creativity were those in the crafts contest. First in the junior division was Katie Biese from Brown County, Randy Winch from Grant County took second, and Hannah Hensel from Wood County placed third. People’s Choice went to Macie Abraham from Sheboygan County. Courtney Moser, Vernon County, took first, second and People’s Choice in the senior division.
Each county was encouraged to submit scrapbook pages of their activities throughout the year that will be used in the scrapbook submitted for the National Contest. Rock County earned first place and People’s Choice scrapbook page, with Waupaca/Waushara County and Manitowoc County placing second and third, respectively.
The folding display contest was a huge success again this year. Individuals developed educational display boards to highlight activities or subjects within the dairy industry. In the junior division, Lydia Gwidt of Shawano County placed first and also received the People’s Choice award. Cathryn Gunst, Waushara County took second and Isaac Hamm from Waupaca County took third. Lauren Siemers from Manitowoc County received first and the People’s Choice Award in the intermediate division while Courtney Moser, Vernon County, took first and People’s Choice in the senior division.
The annual essay contest encourages members to write about assigned topics relating to today’s dairy industry. With another outstanding number of entries in this year’s junior division, taking top honors was Kenadee Weigel of Grant County. Second was Cathryn Gunst of Waushara County, and a tie in third place went to Lauren Siemers, Manitowoc County and Kaelyn Weigel, Grant County. In the senior division, Brooke Trustem of Rock County took first place.
One of the most coveted awards, based on participation throughout the year and enthusiasm, is the Spirit Award, which was given to Manitowoc/Calumet County. The Bell-R-Ring contest was won by Shawano County with Rock County earning first runner-up.
For teams to be seated in the dairy bowl contest, they take a written exam on the first day of convention. Those individuals scoring highest are recognized. High scores in the junior division this year were Jared Abraham of Sheboygan County, Matthew Gunst of Dodge County and Clarissa Ulness of Manitowoc County. Recognized for high scores in the senior division were Mason Jauquet of Shawano County, Marie Haase of Polk County, and Dawson Nickels of Dodge County.
The Wisconsin Holstein Association would like to commend the Wood County Junior Holstein Association members and chaperones, and extend a special thank you to all volunteers that helped make the weekend a success!
The Association would also like to thank the following junior raffle sponsors: Sandy Valley Farms- the Bauer Family for the Registered Holstein heifer calf, Cargill, Boehringer Ingelheim, Animart, Holstein World, Bonnie Mohr, Country Today, Alta Genetics, Nasco, Cattle Connection, Jetstream Genetics, International Protein Sires, World Dairy Expo, Wisconsin Holstein News, UW-River Falls Dairy Club, Vita Plus, WMMB and additional baskets provided by the Junior Activities Committee and WHA Royalty.
— Wisconsin Holstein
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