Burlington--Vermont 4-H’ers proved that they are the champions when it comes to showing dairy animals, capturing five of the six fitting and showing championship titles and all but three of the 17 breed championships at the highly competitive 4-H dairy show at Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

4-H dairy members from all six New England states competed in the regional dairy show, held September 16 and 17 in the Mallary Arena. Competitors included 25 from Vermont, who were selected to participate in this show based on their performance at the State 4-H Dairy Show in August.

For the fitting and showing classes, rankings were determined by how well the 4-H'ers presented and handled their animals in the show ring. Due to the large number of exhibitors, several classes were held for juniors (ages 12 to 14) and seniors (ages 15 to 18). The top two finishers in each class then competed for grand and reserve championships in their age group.

Brailey Livingston, New Haven, was named both Senior Champion and Overall Champion. Natalie Michaud, Greensboro Bend, won Reserve Senior Champion and Reserve Overall Champion with Caroline Allen, Ferrisburgh, finishing as Reserve Junior Champion.

The 4-H'ers placed as follows in their respective fitting and showing classes:

  • Seniors: Group A: Natalie Michaud, Greensboro Bend (first); Madalyn Perry, East Montpelier (fifth); Morgan Michaud, East Hardwick (sixth); Peyton Ball, Vergennes (eighth). Group B: Brailey Livingston, New Haven (first); Isabella Wilbur, Orwell (seventh). Group C: Gabriel Michaud, East Hardwick (first); Liviya Russo, Lunenburg (second); Lorryn Trujillo, North Clarendon (third); Emma Deering, Middlebury (fourth); Michael Plouffe, Bridport (sixth)
  • Juniors: Group A: Caroline Allen, Ferrisburgh (first); Dawson Michaud, East Hardwick (second); Emmeline Paquet, East Montpelier (third); Collin Chamberlin, Addison (sixth); Talon Michaud, Greensboro Bend (seventh); Kylee Shepard, Panton (tenth). Group B: Taryn Burns, Whiting (first); Bella Roell, New Haven (fourth); Jayden Ploof, Panton (ninth); Natalie Hill, Greensboro Bend (tenth). Group C: Steven Werner, East Hardwick (fifth); Christopher Brown, New Haven (sixth); Hailey Chase, Bristol (ninth); Samuel Luis, Whiting (eleventh)

In the conformation classes, the focus is on the appearance and body condition of the animal. These classes are arranged according to the breed and age of the animal. The first and second-place winners in each class competed for championships.

Vermont 4-H’ers placed as follows:

AYRSHIRE: Junior Champion, Grand Champion and Supreme Heifer Champion: Bella Roell, New Haven.

  • Winter calf: Bella Roell, New Haven (first)
  • Fall calf: Collin Chamberlin, Addison (first)
  • Winter yearling heifer: Liviya Russo, Lunenburg (first)

BROWN SWISS: Junior Champion and Grand Champion: Jayden Ploof, Panton

  • Spring calf: Jayden Ploof, Panton (first)
  • Winter calf: Michael Plouffe, Bridport (first)
  • Spring yearling heifer: Samuel Luis, Whiting (second)
  • Fall calf: Taryn Burns, Whiting (first); Lorryn Trujillo, North Clarendon (second)

HOLSTEIN: Junior Champion: Madalyn Perry, East Montpelier; Reserve Junior Champion: Emma Deering, Middlebury; Honorable Mention Junior Champion: Talon Michaud, Greensboro Bend

  • Spring calf: Talon Michaud, Greensboro Bend (first)
  • Winter calf: Natalie Hill, Greensboro (first); Kylee Shepard, Panton (fourth)
  • Fall calf: Madalyn Perry, East Montpelier (first); Emma Deering, Middlebury (second); Emmeline Paquet, East Montpelier (fourth); Dawson Michaud, East Hardwick (fifth); Morgan Michaud, East Hardwick (seventh); Christopher Brown, New Haven (ninth)
  • Winter yearling heifer: Gabriel Michaud (first) and Steven Werner (second), both from East Hardwick
  • Fall yearling heifer: Natalie Michaud, Greensboro Bend (first)

JERSEY: Senior Champion and Grand Champion: Isabella Wilbur, Orwell; Reserve Senior Champion and Reserve Grand Champion: Peyton Ball, Vergennes; Junior Champion: Brailey Livingston, New Haven; Honorable Mention Junior Champion: Caroline Allen, Ferrisburgh

  • Winter calf: Brailey Livingston, New Haven (first)
  • Spring yearling heifer: Caroline Allen, Ferrisburgh (first)
  • Fall yearling heifer: Hailey Chase, Bristol (first)
  • Two-year-old cow: Isabella Wilbur, Orwell (first)
  • Three-year-old cow: Peyton Ball, Vergennes (first)

Karen and Jeff Westcom, Enosburg Falls, served as the night barn people. Poulin Grain donated the grain for the Vermont 4-H herd. 

To learn more about the 4-H dairy program in Vermont, contact Wendy Sorrell, University of Vermont Extension 4-H livestock educator, at wendy.sorrell@uvm.edu or (802) 656-7641.