Pictured: Senior Female Division winners (left to right): Kayla Visser, Hannah Gingerich, Olivia Jennrich, Jamie Gibbs, Alexis Blankenberg, Senior Fitting Judge Dawson Nickels.
Youth across North America participated in the 2024 World Dairy Expo Youth Fitting Contest on Saturday at the Alliant Energy Center. There were 41 participants registered, representing 12 U.S. states and one Canadian province.
Contestants, ages 13-21, were given one hour to prepare their animal to be showring ready.
After topping the Senior Male Division, Kyle Welk, Peachbottom, Pennsylvania, was named the Overall Fitter. Alexis Blankenberg of Platteville, Wisconsin topped the Senior Female Division. Kayla Trustem, Evansville, Wisconsin and Jayse Pudwill, Dakota, Illinois were selected as the top contestants from the Intermediate Female and Intermediate Male Divisions, respectively.
Placings for the WDE Youth Fitting Contest are as follows:
Intermediate Female Division:
1. Kayla Trustem, Evansville, Wis.
2. Kamrie Mauer, Brownton, Minn.
3. Jazlynn Olson, Galesville, Wis.
4. Emma Roeben, Portsmouth, R.I.
Intermediate Male Division:
1. Jayse Pudwill, Dakota, Ill.
2. Braeden Bechel, Elmwood, Wis.
3. Ethan Staudinger, Reedsville, Wis.
4. Benny Uhe, Footville, Wis.
5. Devin Coleman, Brantford, Ontario, Canada
Senior Female Division:
1. Alexis Blankenberg, Platteville, Wis.
2. Jamie Gibbs, Rollingstone, Minn.
3. Olivia Jennrich, New Glarus, Wis.
4. Hannah Gingerich, Shippensburg, Pa.
5. Kayla Visser, Hutchinson, Minn.
Senior Male Division:
1. Kyle Welk, Peachbottom, Pa.
2. Kolby Stoltzfus, East Earl, Pa.
3. Payton Calvert, Cuba City, Wis.
4. Josh Brander, Rockwood, Ontario, Canada
5. Evan Cooper, Owego, N.Y.
Josh Karn, Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, and Dawson Nickels, Watertown, Wisconsin, judged the intermediate and senior divisions, respectively.
