BURLINGTON – For several Vermont 4-H’ers, September 13 and 14 was a whirlwind as they competed in dairy events at the “Big E” in W. Springfield, Mass.
photo by Jackie Chase
Vermont sent two teams to Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts, for the dairy judging competition on September 14. Vermont A Team members (left to right) were Zach Johnson, Tunbridge; Brailey Livingston, New Haven; Mackenzie Chase, Bristol; and Morgan Michaud, East Hardwick. Representing Vermont on the B Team were Dawson Michaud, East Hardwick; Talon Michaud, Greensboro Bend; and Madalyn Perry and Emmeline Paquet, both from East Montpelier.
In the general knowledge contest, testing 4-H’ers on everything dairy, Vermont captured four top 10 places in the Junior Division (ages 12 to 14) and two in the Senior Division (15 to18). Natalie Hill, Greensboro, tied for sixth.
Vermont sent two teams to Eastern States for the judging competition in which the 4-H’ers were asked to evaluate several breed classes and provide oral reasons for four classes. To determine team rankings, the scores of all members of each team were combined. Thirty-two individuals on nine teams competed.
photo by Jackie Chase
The Vermont A Team, comprised of (from left) were Zach Johnson, Tunbridge; Brailey Livingston, New Haven; Mackenzie Chase, Bristol; and Morgan Michaud, East Hardwick; placed first overall in the dairy judging competition at the Eastern States Exposition, September 14.
Mackenzie Chase, Bristol; Zach Johnson, Tunbridge; Brailey Livingston, New Haven; and Morgan Michaud, East Hardwick; made up the Vermont A Team, capturing first place for total score in the breed classes. The team came in first for judging Ayrshires, Brown Swiss and Milking Shorthorns with a third-place finish for Holsteins, fourth for Jerseys and sixth for Guernseys. They also placed second for oral reasons and first place overall.
For individual scores, Morgan Michaud placed first in Ayshires.
The Vermont B Team consisted of Dawson Michaud, East Hardwick and Talon Michaud, Greensboro Bend.
photo by Jackie Chase
Vermont’s clipping team placed second at the Eastern States Exposition 4-H Clipping Contest held September 14. Members (left to right) were Morgan Michaud, East Hardwick; Isabella Wilbur, Orwell; and Brailey Livingston, New Haven.
Individually, Dawson Michaud took fourth in Jerseys, Talon Michaud third in Holsteins and seventh in Jerseys.
Representing Vermont in the clipping contest were Brailey Livingston, New Haven; Morgan Michaud, East Hardwick and Isabella Wilbur, Orwell. The team placed second overall.
For this competition, each three-member team had one hour to prepare their animal for show. Scoring was based on a number of criteria, including preparation, technique, teamwork and overall finished appearance of the animal. Teams were required to explain their process and the steps taken to clip and groom their animal in the given time period.
