MADISON, WIS – World Dairy Expo® welcomed 445 competitors to the colored shavings for the Youth Showmanship Contest on Saturday, September 28, and youth from Wisconsin rose to the top in the Junior, Intermediate and Senior Divisions. Brent Howe of Aylmer, Ontario, Canada, Kelli Cull of Lomira, Wisconsin, and Carla Stetzer of Alma Center, Wisconsin, served as the official judges of the Junior, Intermediate and Senior Division, respectively.
Winning the Junior Division out of 148 participants was Brady Mcconnell, Lancaster, Wisconsin. In addition to this honor, Mcconnell received the W. Terry Howard First Place Award, a custom embroidered jacket courtesy of Images Custom Embroidery. Kayla Trustem, Evansville, Wisconsin, won the Intermediate Division and the Howard Voegeli First Place Award, a custom embroidered jacket presented by Images Custom Embroidery. There were 129 exhibitors in the Intermediate Division this year. In the Senior Division with 168 exhibitors, Tyler Leuch, Pulaski, Wisconsin, placed first and won the Keith King First Place Award, which was also a custom embroidered jacket from Images Custom Embroidery. All three division winners also won clippers courtesy of Andis Company.
All three winners also received the Annette Ostrom Showmanship First Place $1,500 Cash Award, presented by the Ostrom family. Those who place second in their division received the Annette Ostrom Showmanship Second Place $750 Cash Award, also presented by the Ostrom family. Zoetis, E-Zee Milking Equipment, LLC, the Michael Hellenbrand Memorial Fund, Inc. and St. Jacobs ABC provided additional support for the Youth Showmanship Contest.
After placing first or second in their division, six youth competed for the Annette Ostrom Memorial Supreme Showman and Reserve Supreme Showman Awards. Tyler Leuch, Pulaski, Wisconsin, and Kayla Trustem, Evansville, Wisconsin, won these respective awards, which were $3,500 and $1,500 cash awards each. In addition, Leuch received a crystal trophy, all presented by the Ostrom family.
The top 15 winners of each division are as follows:
Junior (Ages 9-13):
1. Brady Mcconnell, Lancaster, Wis.
2. Paige Zimmerman, Brodhead, Wis.
3. Evelyn Wyse, Blanchardville, Wis.
4. Jaedyn Mcpherson, Grandview, Texas
5. Karlie Supplee, Chambersburg, Pa.
6. Madison Sarbacker, Whitewater, Wis.
7. Logan Vanevera, Cobleskill, N.Y.
8. William Zimmerman, Brodhead, Wis.
9. Chance Primmer, Bagley, Wis.
10. Alexis Arbaugh, Westminster, Md.
11. Royce Booth, Plymouth, Wis.
12. Molly Meinholz, Deforest, Wis.
13. Aiden Hodge, Janesville, Wis.
14. Eli Arp, Norwalk, Ohio
15. Kate Kasbergen, Tulare, Calif.
Intermediate (Ages 14-16):
1. Kayla Trustem, Evansville, Wis.
2. Justin Brandel, Lake Mills, Wis.
3. Ava Hebgen, Deforest, Wis.
4. Jadeyn Mueterthies, Lawler, Iowa
5. Cameron Ryan, Fond Du Lac, Wis.
6. Jacob Schimek, Pine Island, Minn.
7. Abby Meyer, Chilton, Wis.
8. Kaylee Jackson, Barron, Wis.
9. Alison Gartman, Sheboygan, Wis.
10. Taylor Lawrence, Brooklyn, Conn.
11. Libby Carpenter, Earth, Texas
12. Avery Best, Lakeland, Fla.
13. Taylor Ferguson, Mount Horeb, Wis.
14. Landen Copenhaver, Lebanon, Pa.
15. Braeden Bechel, Elmwood, Wis.
Senior (Ages 17-21):
1. Tyler Leuch, Pulaski, Wis.
2. Katelyn Poitras, Brimfield, Mass.
3. Kyla Johnson, Tomah, Wis.
4. Logan Harbaugh, Marion, Wis.
5. Dana Johnson, Tomah, Wis.
6. Lilly Johnson, River Falls, Wis.
7. Emily Goode, Liberty, Ky.
8. Aubree Topp, Botkins, Ohio
9. Ava Booth, Plymouth, Wis.
10. Kelsey Hardy, Dodgeville, Wis.
11. Olivia Finke, London, Ohio
12. Amy Hughes, Killbuck, Ohio
13. Kaelyn Weigel, Platteville, Wis.
14. Ainsley Noble, Lancaster, Wis.
15. Summer Hammann, Barron, Wis.
Serving as the meeting place of the global dairy industry, World Dairy Expo is the premier forum for the global dairy community to learn, share, create commerce and showcase competition. The annual event will return to Madison, Wis. October 1-4, 2024, where dairy producers near and far can experience the world’s largest dairy-focused trade show, a world-class dairy cattle show, attend seminars, meetings and presentations highlighting the latest and greatest in the industry and connect with other producers. Download the World Dairy Expo mobile app, visit worlddairyexpo.com or follow WDE on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Spotify, or YouTube for more information.