Youth from Shawano County 4-H who exhibited dairy cattle at the 2015 Wisconsin State Fair won various individual and team awards for their efforts both before and during the fair.
The Shawano County 4-H dairy exhibitors won the first-place Herdsmanship Award for counties with under 18 head of cattle. Herdsmanship refers to how neat, clean and organized the dairy cattle exhibit is kept by the youth. Cattle must be kept clean at all times, bedding must be changed and fluffed daily, and the exhibit overall must be eye-appealing.
Exhibitors are also judged by how well they answer questions from fair spectators, many of whom have very little knowledge of the dairy industry. Multiple judges can walk through the barns at any time to view and judge exhibits, and judges often pose as spectators while asking questions of the youth exhibitors.
Winning first place is very difficult, as the slightest mistake when a judge is present can lower a county’s herdsmanship score.
Individual award winners included Kaila Wussow, who was one of only three 4-H members in Wisconsin to receive the Jim Crowley Dairy Leadership Award and Scholarship for her accomplishments, contributions and leadership in the 4-H Dairy Project. She is the first Shawano County 4-H member to win the award.
Also, Mason Jauquet exhibited the winning junior 2-year-old Holstein with his cow, Synergy Guthrie Toucan. She later went on to be named the supreme champion best bred and owned female of the Junior Dairy Show.
Alexis Diemel exhibited the top winter calf, Dandy.
The county’s exhibitors’ dairy educational display was voted by judges as one of the top 10 at the State Fair. The exhibit was developed by the youth with assistance from 4-H adult volunteer leaders.
The 2015 4-H dairy exhibitors were Alexis Diemel, Whitney Ferfecki, Taylor Gracyalny, Emma Gwidt, Madelynn Gwidt, Carter Jauquet, Mason Jauquet, Jen Krull, Rory Sarenich, Alex Sievert, Bryce Stewart, Colin Wussow and Kaila Wussow.
The youth were supervised by chaperones Brittany Bodart and Jay Krull.
