Throughout the annual Wisconsin Junior Holstein Convention, junior members participated in numerous contests from speaking to photography.
Dairy Bowl
The largest competition of the weekend was Dairy Bowl. Thirty-two junior, 16 senior, and nine rookie teams competed.
The Shawano County team took first place in the senior Dairy Bowl contest with Wood County coming in second place. The winner of the junior division was Brown County 1 with Shawano County taking second. Team members on the senior Shawano County team include Jacob and Logan Harbaugh, Sydney Gwidt, and Evan Jauquet. The Brown County 1 junior team consisted of Tristen Ostrom, Evan Brey, Ian Brick and Alivia Wiese.
The Shawano County and Brown County teams will represent Wisconsin at the National Holstein Convention in June.
Top place in the junior division went to Cameron Ryan, Fond du Lac County. Second was Dylan Ryan of Fond du Lac County and third was Madison Harbaugh of Shawano County.
In the senior division, top score went to Logan Harbaugh, Shawano County. Maddy Hensel of Wood County and Jacob Harbaugh of Shawano County followed.
Dairy Jeopardy
All juniors at the 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.
Evan Brey, Brown County, won the junior division. Second went to Madison Sarbacker, Rock County. Madison Harbaugh, Shawano County, took third. In the intermediate division, Logan Harbaugh of Shawano County topped the group. Cameron Ryan, Fond du Lac County, and Macie Abraham, Sheboygan County, placed second and third, respectively. Sam Mess of Fond du Lac County was the winning contestant in the senior division. Garrett Ulness of Manitowoc/Calumet placed second. Chloe Breunig of Sheboygan County took home third place.
Speaking
In the speaking contest, Wisconsin can send up to three delegates in each division to compete at the 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 the National Convention this year in the junior division are Brady McConnell, Grant County, Alivia Wiese, Brown County and Winston Lichty, Dodge County. In the intermediate division, Cathryn Gunst of Waupaca-Waushara, took home top honors. Lilly Peterson of St. Croix County placed second and Adele Dittman of St. Croix County placed third. Lauren Breunig, Dane County, placed first, Madison Wiese, Brown County, placed second and Maddy Hensel of Wood County was third in the senior division.
Outstanding Juniors
Sam Mess of Fond du Lac County and Clarissa Ulness of Manitowoc/Calumet County claimed the most prestigious honor: Outstanding Holstein Boy and Girl, respectively. These individuals have excelled in their Holstein projects and have been an asset to the association and dairy industry as a whole.
In addition to Mess and Ulness, 2023 Distinguished Junior Members included Emma Bangart, Wood County; Ashley Brandel, Jefferson County; Sara Dorshorst, Wood County; Courtney Glenna, Polk County; Cathryn Gunst, Waupaca/Waushara County; Christopher Gunst, Waupaca-Waushara County; Jacob Harbaugh, Shawano County; Madeline Hensel, Wood County; Evan Jauquet, Shawano County; Ainsley Noble, Grant County; and Emily Stumpf, Fond du Lac County.
The Young Distinguished Junior Holstein Members included Macie Abraham, Sheboygan County; Justin Brandel, Jefferson County; Katie Brandel, Jefferson County; Kayla Buttles, Grant County; Gavin Carncross, District 5 Junior Holsteins; Alison Gartman, Sheboygan County; Madison Harbaugh, Shawano County; Vivian Lichty, Dodge County; Leah Mess, Fond du Lac County; Abby Meyer, Manitowoc/Calumet County; Brooke Mueller, Green County; Rebecca Murphy, District 5 Junior Holsteins; Ella Raatz, Clark County; Cameron Ryan, Fond du Lac County and Peyton Voegeli, District 5 Junior Holsteins.
Lastly, Twelve & Under Recognition went to Royce Booth, Sheboygan County; Evan Brey, Door County; Ian Brick, Brown County; Katelin Freson, Dodge County; Elise Gilbertson, Iowa County; Naydeen Gilbertson, Iowa County; Rubi Klinkner, Vernon County; Adella Loehr, Fond du Lac County, Lexi Metzler, Vernon County; Braelyn Sarbacker, Dane County; Madison Sarbacker, Rock County; Melanie Sarbacker, Rock County; Reagan Sarbacker, Dane County; and Chesney Speich, Rock County.
Jacob Harbaugh, Clarissa Ulness, Courtney Glenna and Sam Mess were all chosen to represent Wisconsin as DJMs at National Convention. The YDJM delegates include Ella Raatz, Katie Brandel, Cameron Ryan and Justin Brandel.
Wisconsin Holstein Princess
This year, Lauren Breunig of Dane County will serve as the 2024 WHA Princess. Madison Wiese of Brown County will join her as the WHA Princess Attendant.
Wisconsin Holstein Youth
The WHY Leadership Merit award recognizes youth who excel in leadership at a local level. They are nominated by an advisor or fellow junior member by means of an application on their behalf. This year’s award recipients include Ava Booth of Sheboygan County and Tessa Schmocker of Jefferson County.
The WHY (Wisconsin Holstein Youth) Friend award honors those who have gone above and beyond to help juniors. This year’s WHY Friend in the one to five years of leadership was awarded to Zach Tolzman, Jefferson County. In the more than six years of leadership category, the late Annette Ostrom of Brown County was honored with the award. Liz Matzke was also recognized as Friend of the JACs for her four years spent as a JAC advisor.
