The 2025 Lamoille County 4-H Youth Dairy Show, held in conjunction with Lamoille County Field Days, attracted a larger than usual turnout with 30 exhibitors, some of whom showed animals in more than one class.

The show, hosted by University of Vermont (UVM) Extension 4-H and the Green Mountain Moovers 4-H Club of Morrisville, took place on July 19 at the Lamoille County fairgrounds in Johnson. Other clubs that were represented included the Border Livestock Plus 4-H Club, Derby; Franklin County 4-Leaf Clovers, Fairfield; Kingdom Country Farmers 4-H Club, East Hardwick; Northern Explorers, Alburgh; and the Rambling Rivers 4-H Club, Newbury.   

William Kelly, Winchester, New Hampshire, was the official judge with Nicole Verchereau, Morrisville, serving as the show announcer. Palmer Hunt of Franklin-Lamoille IBA in Jeffersonville checked in the animals.

The show got underway with the fitting and showmanship contests where participants were evaluated on how well they presented and handled their animal in the show ring. 

Amy Clough, South Ryegate, captured the Senior Fitting and Showmanship title with Sloan Nelson, Derby, taking Reserve Senior Champion. The Junior Fitting and Showmanship Championship went to Mya Marquis, Newport Center. Winning the Reserve Junior Fitting and Showmanship Championship was Bayden McAllister, Morrisville.

First-time dairy show participants, ages 14 to 18, competed in the Novice Division with Emma Draper, Morrisville, named Champion in this contest and Ada Swainbank, Enosburgh, Reserve Champion.

The conformation classes followed a potluck lunch and cookout with hot dogs and hamburgers donated by Hannaford Supermarkets and Price Chopper in Morrisville and Shaws in Stowe. Milk was provided by Lamoille County Milk Promotion and ice cream by Kingdom Creamery. Jason Kelley, Morrisville, manned the grill.

These classes are arranged by breed and age of the animal with the judge taking the appearance and body condition of the animals into consideration when ranking the entries. The first-place winners in each class competed for championships.

judge and youngster with a cow
4-H Cloverbud Elizabeth Tiffany of Enosburgh shyly listens as show judge William Kelly of Winchester, New Hampshire, chats with her about her performance in the show ring at the 2025 Lamoille County 4-H Youth Dairy Show, July 19 in Johnson. (photo: Holly Ferris/UVM Extension 4-H)

 

youngster with cow
Emberly McAllister, Morrisville, gets her animal ready for the show ring at the 2025 Lamoille County 4-H Youth Dairy Show, held July 19 in conjunction with Lamoille County Field Days in Johnson. (photo: Holly Ferris/UVM Extension 4-H)
youngster with a cow
Hannah Birch, Derby, keeps a close eye in the judge as she parades her animal around the show ring at the 2025 Lamoille County 4-H Youth Dairy Show, July 19 in Johnson. (photo: Holly Ferris/UVM Extension 4-H)
youngster with a cow
Hutson Michaud, East Hardwick, was named Holstein Reserve Junior Champion with his winter calf at the 2025 Lamoille County 4-H Youth Dairy Show, July 19 in Johnson. (photo: Holly Ferris/UVM Extension 4-H)

Placements were as follows:

AYRSHIRE

  • Junior and Grand Champion: Emma Pothier, Newport Center, with her Ayrshire spring yearling
  • Spring yearling: Emma Pothier, Newport Center

BROWN SWISS

  • Junior Champion and Grand Champion: Bayden McAllister, Morrisville, with his summer yearling; Reserve Junior Champion: Amy Vaughan, South Ryegate, with her fall yearling
  • Winter calf: Logan Russell, Alburgh           
  • Fall calf: Ada Swainbank, Enosburgh         
  • Summer yearling: Bayden McAllister, Morrisville   
  • Winter yearling: Amy Vaughan, South Ryegate                               
  • Fall yearling: Amy Vaughan, South Ryegate

HOLSTEIN

  • Junior Champion and Grand Champion: Ada Swainbank, Enosburgh, with her winter calf; Reserve Junior Champion: Hutson Michaud, East Hardwick, with his winter calf       
  • Spring calf: Hutson Michaud, East Hardwick
  • Winter calf: Ada Swainbank, Enosburgh
  • Fall calf: Emma Draper, Morrisville
  • Summer yearling: Lydia Clough, East Ryegate             
  • Spring yearling: Harper Cole-Howrigan, Swanton
  • Winter yearling: Sloan Nelson, Derby                 

JERSEY

  • Senior Champion and Grand Champion: Hadley Michaud, East Hardwick, with her three-year-old cow; Junior Champion: Mackenzie Pearl, Barnet, with her summer yearling; Reserve Junior Champion: Mackenzie Pearl, Barnet, with her fall calf
  • Spring calf: Hutson Michaud, East Hardwick                           
  • Winter calf: Hannah Birch, Derby
  • Fall calf: Mackenzie Pearl, Barnet
  • Summer yearling: Mackenzie Pearl, Barnet     
  • Three-year-old cow: Hadley Michaud, East Hardwick

Hadley Michaud was named Grand Champion of All Breeds with her three-year-old cow, Dreamroad BSD Victorious CC. She showed this cow as a two-year-old in last year’s show, also winning this same coveted award.

In addition to winning trophies (fitting and showmanship) or rosette ribbons (conformation), each of these champions received an additional prize donated by local businesses. These included feed buckets, brushes, hoof polish and other items. For winning the Grand Champion of All Breeds Hadley Michaud also was awarded a halter and bag of grain.

Other 4-H’ers who competed were Clara Benoit, Richford; Eva Bury, Derby; Anna Clough, East Ryegate; Silvi Gregory, Hazel Kelley and Emberly McAllister, all from Morrisville; Bryn Nelson, Ryegate; Cameron Rhodes, Swanton; and Kobe Rooney, Fairfax.

Six 4-H Cloverbuds, ages 5 to 7, took part in a special Pewee Division. Participants in this group were not ranked but received feedback from the judge as well as valuable experience showing animals. They included Ida Birch and Asher Nelson, both from Derby; Charlotte Fortin, Swanton; Lanie Howrigan, Sheldon; and Elizabeth Tiffany and Gretta Swainbank, both from Enosburgh.

The show was organized by Holly Ferris, UVM Extension 4-H educator for Caledonia and Lamoille Counties. Tractor Supply Company donated shavings for the barn.

Other sponsors included Cold Hollow Veterinary Services, Enosburg Falls; Gregory Construction, Morristown; Guy’s Farm and Yard, Morrisville; Palmer Hunt of Franklin-Lamoille IBA; Morrison's Feedbag, St. Johnsbury; Cheryl Poor and Joan Verchereau, both from Berlin. The Lamoille County 4-H Foundation purchased wristbands for rides for all 4-H dairy show participants.