Rutland--Several Rutland County 4-H club members gathered at the Vermont State Fairgrounds in Rutland, July 30-31, for the 2022 Rutland County 4-H Dairy Show and Clinic.
The weekend got underway with the review of dairy record books and interviews on Saturday morning for competitors, age 11 and older, interested in participating in the State 4-H Dairy Show, Aug. 14-15, in Tunbridge. The afternoon clinic focused on nutrition for dairy animals and showmanship tips. An evening pizza party capped off the first day.
The dairy show was held on Sunday starting with the fitting and showmanship classes, arranged according to the exhibitor's age. Scoring and placements were based on how well each exhibitor presented and handled his or her animal.
The top two winners in the fitting and showmanship contests for Seniors (14 and older), Juniors (11-13) and Juniors (9-10) competed for the championships in this competition. Capturing the Overall Showmanship Champion award was Lorryn Trujillo, North Clarendon, who placed first in the Senior Division. Reserve Overall Showmanship Champion was Emma Seward, East Wallingford, who earned second place in that same division.
The first- and second-place finishers in the other age groups who vied for the overall title were Juniors, 11-13: Natalia Tarbell, Middletown Springs (first) and Caleb Sprague, East Wallingford (second) and Juniors, 9-10: Bailey Bowen, Florence (first) and Gracie Bromley, Wallingford (second).
Following the fitting and showmanship classes, the 4-H'ers competed in conformation classes, arranged by breed and age of the animal. The animals were judged on physical structure, condition and overall appearance.
Championships, listed by breed, were won by the following exhibitors:
- AYRSHIRE: Junior and Grand Champion: Natalia Tarbell, Middletown Springs, with her spring calf; Reserve Junior Champion and Reserve Grand Champion: Patty Bruce, Wallingford, with her fall calf
- BROWN SWISS: Senior Champion and Grand Champion: Lorryn Trujillo, North Clarendon, with her two-year-old cow; Junior Champion: Rose Tarbell, Middletown Springs, with her fall calf; Reserve Junior Champion: Rose Tarbell, Middletown Springs, with her spring calf
- GUERNSEY: Junior and Grand Champion: Bailey Bowen, Florence, with her winter calf; Reserve Junior Champion and Reserve Grand Champion: Bailey Bowen, Florence, with her fall calf
- HOLSTEIN: Senior and Grand Champion: Emma Seward, East Wallingford, with her four-year-old cow; Reserve Senior Champion and Reserve Grand Champion: Jaymie Landon, Hampton, New York, with her two-year-old cow; Junior Champion: Caleb Sprague, East Wallingford, with his spring calf; Reserve Junior Champion: Emma Seward, East Wallingford, with her fall calf
- JERSEY: Senior Champion and Grand Champion: Patty Bruce, Wallingford, with her two-year-old cow; Junior Champion and Reserve Grand Champion: Lorryn Trujillo, North Clarendon, with her summer yearling; Reserve Junior Champion: Bailey Bowen, Florence, with her winter calf
- LINEBACK: Junior Champion and Grand Champion: Gracie Bromley, Wallingford, with her spring calf; Reserve Junior Champion and Reserve Grand Champion: Rose Tarbell, Middletown Springs, with her summer yearling
- MILKING SHORTHORN: Senior Champion and Grand Champion: AJ Landon, Hampton, New York, with his three-year-old cow; Reserve Senior Champion and Reserve Grand Champion: Jaymie Landon, Hampton, New York, with her two-year-old cow