4-Hers who attended the annual Central and Southeastern Regional 4-H Dairy Clinic and Show were from Barre, Bethel, Fair Haven, Hartland, Montpelier, New Haven, North Hartland, Orange, Randolph Center, Sharon, South Royalton, Stafford, Tunbridge, West Lebanon, West Windsor, White River Junction, and one visiting 4-Her was from Bluffton, Ohio.
The clinic began Saturday with educational activities designed to strengthen participants' skills both in and out of the show ring. Youth took part in a bucket decorating activity and attended workshops on tractor and farm safety led by UVM Extension 4-H Youth Agriculture Project Coordinator, Liz Kenton, as well as a showmanship workshop presented by 4-H alumna Karissa Livingston.
Participants also completed project record book evaluations and interviews, important components of the 4-H experience that help youth develop communication, record-keeping, and goal-setting skills.
The Orange County 4-H Foundation hosted a "Party ‘Til the Cows Come Home" celebration for participants and provided pizza from the North Tunbridge General Store, helping create a fun and welcoming environment for youth and families.
There was a breakfast sponsored by the Orange County Farm Bureau and the Windsor County Farm Bureau, with volunteers serving participants and their parents. There was a cookout lunch put on by the Middle Branch Grange.
The weekend culminated Sunday with the regional dairy show, where participants demonstrated their animal handling, fitting, showing, and dairy cattle evaluation skills. Division winners received ribbons and commemorative belt buckles. The judge was Justine Allyn from CT.
Fitting and Showing Champions
Top honors in the fitting and showing divisions were awarded to:
Senior Division
- 1st: Whitney McClain
- 2nd: Sylvia Johnson
- 3rd: John McClain
- 4 Maeve Leslie Gawalt
5 "Bee" Branwen Wilbur
6 Austin Washburn
7 Sophie Fors
Junior Division
- 1st: Izabella LaPorte
- 2nd: Aspen Norris
- 3rd: Thomas Williams
- 4 Amos Riesterer
5 Iris Freitag
Beginner Division A
- 1st: Aubree May
- 2nd: Hattie Hoyt
- 3rd: Landyn Bedell
- 4 Harrison Provoncha
5 Maeven Dunkel
6 Claire Washburn
7 Eloise Rosenquest
8 William Manning
Beginner Division B
- 1st: Jade Gorton
- 2nd: Lucas Gorton
- 3rd: Remi Hawkins
4 Molly LaFramboise
5 Wyatt Eldridge
6 Harley O'Brien
7 Sarah Williams
8 Hailey Williams
9 Lucy Angell
Several younger participants also took part in the non-competitive Cloverbud division, gaining valuable experience in the show ring.
Molly Gorton
Theron Provoncha
Annalisa Young
Everett Hoyt
Grace Carty
Juniper Manning
Brynn Williams
Breed Champions
The afternoon featured dairy cattle conformation classes representing several breeds.
Ayrshire
- Grand Champion: Anna Freitag
- Reserve Champion: Iris Freitag
Brown Swiss
- Grand Champion: Jade Gorton
Guernsey
- Grand Champion: Sylvia Johnson
- Reserve Champion: Wyatt Eldridge
Holstein
- Grand Champion: Harrison Provoncha
- Reserve Champion: Lucas Gorton
Jersey
- Junior Champion: Maeve Leslie-Gawalt
- Reserve Junior Champion: Molly LaFramboise
- Senior Champion: Maeve Leslie-Gawalt
- Reserve Senior Champion: Amos Riesterer
- Grand Champion: Maeve Leslie-Gawalt
- Reserve Grand Champion: Maeve Leslie-Gawalt
Milking Shorthorn
- Grand Champion: Jade Gorton
- Reserve Champion: Molly LaFramboise
The Confirmation Division’s highest honor, Supreme Champion, was awarded to Maeve Leslie-Gawalt and her Jersey Fall Calf after competing against the champion animals from each breed division.
The Herdsmanship Award
The Herdsmanship Award was awarded to the Middle Branch 4-H Club. Herdsmanship refers to the practical skills, care, and management involved in keeping farm animals healthy and maintaining clean, orderly livestock exhibits. It highlights stall cleanliness, proper animal care, and exhibitor courtesy at agricultural fairs and 4-H programs. The youth also decorated the barn in their club’s area. They won a pizza party sponsored by the Orange County 4-H Foundation.
Dick Dodge Award
The most prestigious recognition for the Showmanship Category is the Dick Dodge Award, presented annually to the top overall showperson following a championship showmanship competition featuring the leading exhibitors from each division.
Competing:
Whitney McClain
Syvia Johnson
Izabella LaPorte
Aspen Norris
Aubree May
Hattie Hoyt
Jade Gorton
Lucas Gorton
This year's Dick Dodge Award winner was Jade Gorton, with Whitney McClain earning reserve honors. Gorton received an embroidered director's chair commemorating the achievement.
"The regional dairy clinic and show provides youth with opportunities to build confidence, develop leadership and communication skills, strengthen their knowledge of dairy cattle, and connect with peers who share similar interests," said Molly McFaun, 4-H Educator for Orange & Washington Counties.
The Central and Southeastern Regional 4-H Dairy Clinic and Show is made possible through the support of volunteers, families, sponsors, and community partners who help create meaningful opportunities for Vermont youth involved in agriculture.