Rochester--4-H'ers from four Vermont clubs gathered at Liberty Hill Farm in Rochester on April 30 for the 2023 Central and Southeastern Regional 4-H Dairy Judging Clinic.

Eighteen 4-H'ers took part, representing the Clever Clovers 4-H Club, Tunbridge; Hartland Cattle Club, Hartland; Middle Branch 4-H Club, Randolph Center; and the Rambling Rivers 4-H Club, Newbury. In addition to competing by age group for rankings and ribbons, the event provided an opportunity for the youths to hone their judging skills for future local, state and regional competitions.

Placements were as follows:

• SENIORS (14-18): Kate Wehmeyer, Lyme, New Hampshire (first); Elise Sanders, West Topsham (second); Maeve Leslie-Gawalt, Hartland (third); Dylan Slack, Bethel (fourth); Peter Morig, Norwich (fifth); Dani Flint, East Bethel (sixth); Leah Rogers, Randolph Center (seventh); Chandler Cook, Randolph (eighth); Andrew Fors, Bethel (ninth)
• JUNIORS (11-13): Ella Kennett, Rochester (first); Lori Graham, Randolph (second); Bryn Nelson, Ryegate (third); Sophia Fors, Bethel (fourth); Logan Meacham, North Hartland (fifth); Mackenzie Pearl, Barnet (sixth)      
• BEGINNERS (8-10): Faith Comstock, South Royalton (first); Thomas Williams, Randolph Center (second); Tyler Meacham, North Hartland (third)      

Jeff Lester, Monkton, served as the official judge. Volunteers included Terri Conant and Abbie Williams, both from Randolph Center; Lisa Flint, South Royalton; Rebecca Fors, Bethel; Dave Kennett, Rochester; and Jen Thygesen, Tunbridge.

The clinic was organized by Molly McFaun, University of Vermont Extension 4-H educator, who can be reached at (802) 656-4828 or molly.mcfaun@uvm.edu to learn more about the 4-H dairy project in central and southeastern Vermont.