Woodstock--The Billings Farm and Museum in Woodstock hosted the 2022 Central and Southeast 4-H Dairy Judging Competition on April 3.

Although organized as an opportunity for 4-H members in Orange, Washington, Windham and Windsor Counties, it was open to any 4-H'er in the state interested in dairy judging. Twenty-eight youths participated, representing six clubs: Clever Clovers 4-H Club, Tunbridge; Hartland Cattle Club, Hartland; Middle Branch 4-H Club, Randolph Center; New Haven Dairy 4-H Club, New Haven; Rambling Rivers 4-H Club, Newbury; and Sunset Hill 4-H Club, Williston.

Participants at the 2022 Central and Southeast 4-H Dairy Judging Competition, April 3 in Woodstock, gather for a group photo before heading home. (photo: Terri Conant)

The 4-H'ers judged four classes of Jersey cows and were scored on how well their rankings in each class matched the placements of the official judge, Kyle Thygesen of Tunbridge. The seniors (14-18) also were required to present two sets of oral reasons to a panel of judges, which in addition to the official judge included Jen Thygesen, Tunbridge, and Chuck Deon, Woodstock. Stacey Bradley, Hartland, and Adrienne Card, Williston, also assisted with the event.

Rankings were as follows:

  • Beginners (8-10): Sophie Fors, Bethel (first); Eloisa Coelho, Bridgewater (second); Amos Riesterer, Bethel (third); Thomas Williams, Randolph Center (fourth); Xavier Hebert, Windsor (fifth); Remington Card (sixth) and Colt Card (seventh), both from Williston
  • Juniors (11-13): Wyatt Chambers, Tunbridge (first); Bee Wilbur, Hartland (second); Zoe Rumsey, Hartland (third); Bristol Card, Williston, and Hayden Peeler, Hartland (tie for fourth);   Leah Rogers, Braintree (fifth); Ashton Perkins, North Pomfret (sixth); Arden Riesterer, Bethel (seventh); Dani Flint, South Royalton (eighth); Andy Fors, Bethel (ninth); Mackenzie Pearl, Barnet, and Austin Washburn, Bethel (tie for tenth); Marlee Paulette, Hartland (eleventh)
  • Seniors (14-18): Keenan Thygesen, Tunbridge (first); Maeve Leslie-Gawalt, Reading (second); Dylan Slack, Bethel (third); Kate Wehmeyer, Lyme, New Hampshire (fourth); Karissa Livingston (fifth) and Brailey Livingston (sixth), both from New Haven; Elise Sanders, West Topsham (seventh); Elizabeth Waterman, Thetford Center (eighth).

In addition to their ribbons, participants went home with 4-H and dairy-themed goodie bags, courtesy of the Orange County 4-H Foundation, and bars of cheese donated by Cabot Cheese.

To learn more about the 4-H dairy program in the central and southeast region, contact Molly McFaun, University of Vermont Extension 4-H educator, at (802) 476-2003, ext. 205, or molly.mcfaun@uvm.edu.