Tunbridge--The 2024 Central and Southeast Region 4-H Dairy Show, July 19 and 20, in Tunbridge proved to be an “udderly” great experience for the 27 4-H’ers who showed dairy animals and participated in workshops and other activities.

The two-day event, held at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds, was sponsored by University of Vermont (UVM) Extension 4-H. Abigail Wratten, Enosburg, served as the judge for the show, which was organized by 4-H Educators Molly McFaun and Amber Thibodeau with assistance from Jen Thygesen, Tunbridge, and other volunteers.

Taylor Hull, DVM of Firefly Meadow Veterinary Services in South Royalton conducted biosecurity check-ins for all the animals prior to the show. She also led a vet science workshop for participants.

First-year competitors learned about show readiness, dairy quiz bowl and other dairy topics from recent 4-H alums Evelyn and Lorryn Trujillo of North Clarendon. The sisters both participated on state judging and quiz bowl teams as well as won many awards at 4-H dairy shows.

Two special awards were presented at the show. For being named the overall Fitting and Showmanship Champion, Maeve Leslie-Gawalt, Hartland, received the Dick Dodge Memorial Award. The award is given in memory of the former UVM Extension dairy specialist, who inspired and educated youths and adults in dairy science. Maeve also won the Vermont Jersey Breeders Association 4-H Grand Champion Jersey 2024 award.

In the fitting and showmanship competitions participants were evaluated on how well they handled and presented their animals. Separate contests were held for seniors (14 and older), juniors (11 to 13), beginners (9-10), rookies (ages 11-18 and first 4-H dairy show) and novices (ages 8-10 and first 4-H dairy show). In conformation classes, arranged by breed and age of the animal, the animals were judged on physical structure, condition and appearance.

Fitting and showmanship championships were as follows:

  • SENIOR: Champion: Maeve Leslie-Gawalt, Hartland; Reserve Champion: Zachary Johnson, Tunbridge 
  • JUNIOR: Champion: Thomas Williams, Randolph Center; Reserve Champion: Sophie Fors, Bethel
  • BEGINNER: Champion: Eloisa Coelho, Bridgewater; Reserve Champion: Amos Riesterer, Bethel
  • ROOKIE : Champion: Whitney McClain, Tunbridge; Reserve Champion: John McClain, Tunbridge
  • NOVICE (ages 8-10 and first 4-H dairy show): Champion: Remi Hawkins, Barre; Reserve Champion: Cedar Eldridge, Montpelier

Breed championships went to the following 4-H'ers:

  • AYRSHIRE: Junior Champion and Grand Champion: Whitney Dunklee, Vernon, with her spring calf; Junior Reserve Champion: Arden Riesterer, Bethel, with his spring yearling
  • BROWN SWISS: Senior Champion and Grand Champion: Ryder Curavoo, Berlin, with his three-year-old cow; Junior Champion: Whitney Dunklee, Vernon, with her fall calf; Junior Reserve Champion: Elizabeth Waterman, Topsham, with her winter calf
  • GUERNSEY: Junior Champion and Grand Champion: Zachary Johnson, Tunbridge, with his spring yearling; Junior Reserve Champion: Sylvia Johnson, Tunbridge, with her spring calf
  • HOLSTEIN: Junior Champion and Grand Champion: Zachary Johnson, Tunbridge, with his summer yearling; Junior Reserve Champion: Whitney McClain, Tunbridge, with her winter calf
  • JERSEY: Senior Champion and Grand Champion: Maeve Leslie-Gawalt, Hartland, with her three-year-old cow; Senior Reserve Champion Maeve Leslie-Gawalt, Hartland, with her two-year-old cow; Junior Champion: Remi Hawkins, Barre, with her spring calf; Junior Reserve Champion: Maeve Leslie-Gawalt, Hartland, with her winter calf
  • SUPREME CHAMPION OF ALL BREEDS: Maeve Leslie-Gawalt, Hartland, with her three-year-old Jersey cow

The Herdsmanship Award for best club herd went to the Clever Clovers 4-H Club of Tunbridge, who won a club pizza party donated by the Orange County 4-H Foundation. The judges consider a number of criteria when selecting the winner, including how well club members care for their animals, work together to make decisions and handle barn chores and interact with the public. They also look at safety, cleanliness and decorations of the club's stalls in the barn.

The 4-H’ers were required to submit their dairy project record books for evaluation prior to the show and were interviewed about their project and dairy knowledge on the first day of the event. Scores for each were combined for an overall score.

Every participant received a dairy-themed prize from the Orange County 4-H Foundation for their record book participation with a special prize for the top scorer in Orange/Washington Counties and Windham/Windsor Counties in each division.

For Orange/Washington Counties, the winners were Anna Clough, Tunbridge (tie for Junior); Amos Riesterer, Bethel (Beginner); Elizabeth Waterman, Topsham (Senior); and Thomas Williams, Randolph Center (tie for Junior).

Top scorers for Windham/Windsor Counties were Eloisa Coelho, Bridgewater (Beginner), and Whitney Dunklee, Vernon (Senior).

The two-day event also included a fun T-shirt silk-screening workshop and a free pancake and sausage breakfast, courtesy of the families and friends of the Clever Clovers 4-H Club, the  Orange and Windsor County Farm Bureaus, the Frazer Insurance Agency in Windsor, Silloway Maple in Randolph Center and other generous anonymous donors.

Food was catered by the North Tunbridge General Store for Friday night dinner and the Middle Branch Grange for Saturday lunch, both meals subsidized by the Orange County 4-H Foundation. Additional support was provided by the Windsor County 4-H Foundation and the Union Agricultural Society (Tunbridge Fair).

To learn more about the 4-H dairy program in central and southeastern Vermont, contact McFaun at (802) 656-4828 or molly.mcfaun@uvm.edu.