Ferwerda, Sweers Named High Rank Award Winners at Annual Dairy Expo, Receive $1,000 Prizes
8/13/09
Contact: Sara Long
517-432-1555, ext. 170
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Rob Ferwerda, Ottawa County, and Kailey Sweers, Ingham County, were recognized as the highest point-getters in this year’s 4-H Dairy Days, an annual dairy youth activity held in conjunction with Michigan Dairy Expo. The 13th annual expo took place July 20-24 at the Michigan State University (MSU) Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education in East Lansing.
4-H Dairy Days offers young people interested in the dairy industry opportunities to compete for premiums, ribbons and scholarships in various activities, including dairy quiz bowls, dairy management contests, dairy cattle judging, showmanship and a youth show. Winners may also be selected to go on to represent Michigan in national competitions.
Ferwerda was awarded the Overall Dairy Youth 4-H Dairy Days Award in the senior division, and Sweers was named the Overall Dairy Youth 4-H Dairy Days Award winner in the junior division. Each received a $1,000 cash prize. Runners-up for the awards and winners of $750 cash prizes were Katie Arndt, Clinton County, in the senior division, and Jay Luoma, Calhoun County, in the junior division.
The Overall Dairy Youth 4-H Dairy Days Award is awarded to the contestant who accumulates the highest total points in three of four contest categories: dairy cattle judging (conformation placings and oral reasons), dairy management, quiz bowl and showmanship. The senior division is open to youth ages 15 to 19; the junior division, to youth ages nine to 14.
Ferwerda won the senior division of the dairy management contest and was a member of the third place team. He also placed 22nd overall in the dairy judging contest.
In addition to placing first in her showmanship division, Sweers exhibited the reserve junior champion Holstein and the reserve junior champion Red and White Holstein in the 4-H youth dairy show. She was second high individual in oral reasons, a member of the first place team in oral reasons, fifth highest individual overall, and a member of the second place team overall. Sweers also was a member of the third place dairy quiz bowl team and the fifth place dairy management contest team.
“Winning this award requires a lot of hard work and dedication and is the culmination of an entire week’s worth of commitment to doing one’s best in several challenging competitions, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t emphasize the amount of time and effort these contestants commit to learning a number of skills before getting here to compete,” says Joe Domecq, Michigan 4-H dairy youth specialist and coordinator of Michigan Dairy Expo. “The entire week’s worth of activities help showcase some of the industry’s most talented and engaged youth and the future of the state’s dairy industry.”
Michigan Dairy Expo is the largest annual dairy event in the state. This year’s expo drew more than 400 dairy animals and more than 200 exhibitors. To download photos or results from any of the week’s activities, visit www.michigandairyexpo.com.
The mission of Michigan Dairy Expo is to encourage and promote youth involvement in dairy activities, showcase the Michigan dairy industry, and provide continuing education opportunities for the dairy industry in Michigan and neighboring states.
All Michigan Dairy Expo activities took place at the state-of-the-art MSU Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education, which was funded by the Animal Agriculture Initiative (AAI) at MSU. Established in 1996 as part of the grass-roots-driven Revitalization of Animal Agriculture in Michigan Initiative, the AAI is a partnership between MSU, livestock producers and industry organizations, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture to address challenges facing Michigan animal-based agriculture through research and Extension projects.
For more information about the Michigan 4-H dairy youth program or Michigan Dairy Expo, contact the Michigan 4-H dairy office at 517-353-7855.
The 2010 Michigan Dairy Expo is scheduled for July 19-23 at MSU.
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