Essex Junction—Agriculture has always been a big part of the Champlain Valley Fair, and this year was no exception as more than 50 Vermont 4-H’ers took part in livestock and agriculture contests during its 10-day run.
The 2024 fair, held August 23-September 1 in Essex Junction, included several competitions, both for fun and to earn ribbons and premiums. Several of the dairy and poultry show exhibitors also took part in the afternoon fair parade on 4-H Day, August 25, showing off their animals as they marched through the fairgrounds.
At the 4-H dairy show, held August 24, Brailey Livingston, New Haven, captured the Senior Fitting and Showmanship Championship with Whitney Dunklee, Vernon, taking Reserve Senior Championship and Hailey Chase, Bristol, Honorable Mention. Caroline Allen, Panton, was named the Intermediate Fitting and Showmanship Champion and Tenley Chittenden, Whiting, Reserve Intermediate Fitting and Showmanship Champion. Honorable Mention went to Bella Roell, Middlebury. The Junior Fitting and Showmanship Champion was Thomas Allen, Panton. Blake Moulton, Middlebury, was Reserve Junior Fitting and Showmanship Champion, and Huxton Joyal, Williston, received Honorable Mention.
Winning breed grand championships were:
- AYRSHIRE: Senior Champion and Grand Champion: Isabella Wilbur, Orwell, with her two-year-old cow; Reserve Senior Champion: Whitney Dunklee, Vernon, with her two-year-old cow; Junior Champion and Reserve Grand Champion: Bella Roell, Middlebury, with her winter yearling; Reserve Junior Champion: Bella Roell, Middlebury, with her winter calf; Honorable Mention: Paige Chamberlin, Addison, with her fall calf
- BROWN SWISS: Junior Champion and Grand Champion: Tenley Chittenden, Whiting, with her spring yearling; Reserve Junior Champion and Reserve Grand Champion: Whitney Dunklee, Vernon, with her fall calf; Junior Honorable Mention: Taryn Burns, Whiting, with her fall calf
- GUERNSEY: Junior Champion and Grand Champion: Thomas Allen, Panton, with his winter calf; Reserve Junior Champion and Reserve Champion: Thomas Allen, Panton, with his summer yearling
- HOLSTEIN: Junior Champion and Grand Champion: Collin Chamberlin, Addison, with his fall calf; Reserve Junior Champion and Reserve Grand Champion: Isabella Wilbur, Orwell, with her winter calf; Junior Honorable Mention: Hazel Kelley, Morrisville, with her spring calf
- JERSEY: Senior Champion and Grand Champion: Hailey Chase, Bristol, with her two-year-old cow; Reserve Senior Champion: MacKenzie Chase, Bristol, with her three-year-old cow; Junior Champion and Grand Champion: Caroline Allen, Panton, with her spring yearling; Reserve Junior Champion and Reserve Grand Champion: Isabella Wilbur, Orwell, with her summer yearling; Honorable Mention and Honorable Mention Grand Champion: Sutton Chittenden, Whiting, with her fall calf
- MILKING SHORTHORN: Junior Champion and Grand Champion: Brailey Livingston, New Haven, with her fall calf; Reserve Junior Champion and Reserve Grand Champion: Brailey Livingston, New Haven, with her summer yearling
Isabella Wilbur won Supreme Champion Senior Female for All Breeds with her Ayrshire two-year-old. Bella Roell, Bristol, was awarded Supreme Champion Junior Female of All Breeds with her Ayrshire winter yearling. Former 4-H’er Isabel Hall of East Montpelier was the show judge.
The poultry show and judging jamboree both took place on 4-H Day. Ryan Breen, Brandon, served as the judge for the poultry show, which included fitting and showmanship, conformation and general knowledge contests.
Evan Fortune and Henry Lawrence, both from Georgia, and Nick Raley and Gabrielle Senecal, both from Fairfax, all earned blue ribbons in fitting and showmanship and the general knowledge contest. Ian Kascha-Hare and Josephina Kascha-Hare, Milton, and Julie Merlo, Fairfax, won blues in fitting and showmanship and reds in general knowledge. Lane Fortune, Georgia, won a red in fitting and showmanship and a blue in general knowledge.
In conformation, reds were awarded to Evan and Lane Fortune, Ian and Josephine Kascha-Hare and Nick Raley with whites going to Henry Lawrence and Gabrielle Senecal. Julie Merlo did not place in this phase.
For the judging jamboree, which attracted 35 participants, the 4-H’ers learned about honey and rabbits. Glen Card, Williston, led an informational session about honey, talking about how honey is judged for clarity and color and how it is prepared and packaged for sale.
Volunteers with the fair’s rabbit department introduced participants to the Rex breed, including what qualities judges look for in show rabbits. The 4-H’ers then judged and ranked a class of four Rex rabbits. The jamboree was just for fun, so no ribbons were awarded.
The final 4-H event at the Champlain Valley Fair was the horse show on August 31 where Emma Babyak, Fairfax, was named Beginner Champion, and Reserve Beginner Champion went to Saige Prisco, Milton. Jenesy Zwart, Danville, earned the Advanced Beginner Championship. Reserve Advance Beginner Champion was LeighAnn Judd, Wolcott.
In equitation, Emma Babyak, Fairfax; Grace Peterson, Essex; and Jenesy Zwart, Danville, all earned blues with Emma also earning the only blue in the 4-H project class.
Jenesy Zwart ranked first in the judging classes, which included ponies in hand and English pleasure. Assisting with this class were former 4-H’ers Vivienne Babbott, Hinesburg; Hailee Blades, Jeffersonville; Tucker Murdough, Essex Junction; and Alison Tourville, Georgia.
The show was judged by Natalie McGowen, Pembroke, New Hampshire, with Jimmy Sullivan, Swanton, acting as ringmaster and Jolene Fontaine, Jericho, serving as the announcer. Martha Blades, also of Jericho, and Pam Senesac, Colchester, were the show secretaries, and Jean Fay, Essex, was the ribbon organizer and runner.
For information about the University of Vermont Extension 4-H program, contact the State 4-H Office at (802) 656-7630 or (800) 571-0668 (toll-free in Vermont).