These 4-H youth, ages 9 to 19, showed their dairy animals in 4-H dairy showmanship and in the judging contest. The showmanship contest involved competing for awards based upon how well the 4-H members presented their dairy animals to the judge. In the judging contest, youth received ribbons, trophies, and other special awards based upon the judge’s opinion of the animal’s conformation characteristics.

The future of the 4-H dairy project is bright as an additional 18 youth ages 5-8 participated in the showmanship class for Dairy Buds. They were not judged for placings, but to gain experience being in the show arena and interacting with the dairy judge.

4-H Dairy Showmanship Results: (1st through 4th placings)

Upper Senior Division (17 years and older) — 1st: Leighanne Swan, Sherman; 2nd: Esther Knappenberger, Westfield; 3rd: Jillian Bond, South Dayton; 4th: Brason Frederes, Falconer

For the 4-H Dairy Showmanship Contest, pictured form left are as follows: Shaun Merrill, 4-H Dairy Judge; Sadie Steward, 2023-2024 Chautauqua County Dairy Ambassador; Cole Nickerson, Master Dairy Showman; Erma Wolcott, Reserve Master Dairy Showman and Paige Winton, Dairy Ambassador.

Senior Division (15 and 16 years old) — 1st: Larsen Swan, Sherman; 2nd: Liam Nickerson, Sherman; 3rd: Ava Burridge, Cassadaga; 4th: Dayne Jantzi, Sherman Kountry Kids

Junior Division (12 to 14 years old) — 1st: Carlie Ward, South Dayton; 2nd: Ava Meyer, Stockton Panthers; 3rd: Ana Frederes, Falconer; 4th: Emersen Crawford, Clymer

Beginners (11 years and under) — 1st: Emma Rowe, Ripley; 2nd: Levi Mierzwa, Stockton Panthers; 3rd: Owen Carlberg, Frewsburg Hayseeds; 4th: Tyler Crowell, Stockton Panthers

Junior Novice Division (dairy exhibitors who have never shown in 4-H, 10 years and under) — 1st: Emelise Runge, Stockton Panthers; 2nd: Robert Meyer, Stockton Panthers; 3rd: Westyn Bruyer, Levant Livewires; 4th: Drake Joy, Canadaway

Intermediate Novice Division (dairy exhibitors who have never shown in 4-H, over 10 years of age) — 1st: Abigail Carlberg, Frewsburg Hayseeds

4-H Dairy Supreme Champion and Overall Best Bred and Owned: Ava Burridge, Cassadaga, with her Jr. Three-Year-Old Jersey Cow named Darby, with judge Mr. Shaun Merrill and Dairy Ambassador Sadie Steward presenting Ava Burridge her blue ribbons and engraved award.

Master Dairy Showman: Cole Nickerson, Corry, PA

Reserve Master Dairy Showman: Erma Wolcott, Mayville

Honorable Mention Master Dairy Showman: Larsen Swan, Sherman

Dairy Bud Participants (youth 5 to 8 years of age) — Claudia Almekinder, Tucker Bruyer, Eleanor Carlberg, August Carlberg, Landon Carpenter, Gary Case, Levi DeLand, Randi Frank, Elizabeth Jones, Brant Joy, Myra Rose Joy, Alexandria Kolassa, Riley MacCallum, Emerson Moss, Maecee Nickerson, Ella Olmstead, Dale Perry, and Wyatt Winton.

The results of the dairy judging contest are as follows (1st through 4th place blue ribbon winners):

Spring Heifer Calf

Brown Swiss — 1st: Ava Burridge, Cassadaga

Holstein — 1st: Ana Frederes, Falconer; 2nd: Robert Meyer, Stockton Panthers; 3rd: Evie Woodis, Dewittville; 4th: Emmerson Crawford, Clymer

Jersey — 1st: Ava Burridge, Cassadaga

Milking Shorthorn — 1st: Ava Burridge, Cassadaga

Winter Heifer Calf

Brown Swiss — 1st: Carlie Ward, South Dayton; 2nd: Ava Burridge, Cassadaga

Holstein — 1st: Liam Nickerson, Sherman; 2nd: Emmersen Crawford, Clymer; 3rd: Evie Woodis, Dewittville; 4th: Evan Mierzwa, Stockton Panthers

Jersey — 1st: Evie Woodis, Dewittville; 2nd: Tyler Crowell, Stockton Panthers; 3rd: Emma Rowe, Ripley; 4th: Mitchell Tauzel, Panama Fall Heifer Calf

Brown Swiss — 1st: Carlie Ward, South Dayton; 2nd: Ava Burridge, Cassadaga

Holstein — 1st: Violet Walker, Dunkirk; 2nd: Liam Nickerson, Sherman; 3rd: Evie Woodis, Dewittville

Jersey — 1st: Jillian Bond, South Dayton; 2nd: Cole Nickerson, Corry, PA

Summer Yearling Heifer Calf

Brown Swiss — 1st: Leighanne Swan, Sherman

Guernsey — 1st: Larsen Swan, Sherman; 2nd: Larsen Swan, Sherman

Holstein — 1st: Collin Crawford, Clymer; 2nd: Collin Crawford, Clymer

Jersey — 1st: Evie Woodis, Dewittville; 2nd: Jillian Bond, South Dayton

Spring Yearling Heifer Calf

Guernsey — 1st: Ether Knappenberger, Westfield

Holstein — 1st: Tyler Crowell, Stockton Panthers; 2nd: Devon Centner, Stockton Panthers

Jersey — 1st: Tyler Crowell, Stockton Panthers; 2nd: Jillian Bond, South Dayton

Winter Yearling Heifer

Ayrshire — 1st: Dayne Jantzi, Sherman Kountry Kids

Brown Swiss — 1st: Carlie Ward, South Dayton

Holstein — 1st: Ana Frederes, Falconer

Fall Yearling Heifer

Brown Swiss — 1st: Jillian Bond, South Dayton

Holstein — 1st: Erma Wolcott, Mayville

Jersey — 1st: Drake DeLand, Sherman

Junior Champions

Ayrshire — Dayne Jantzi, Sherman Kountry Kids

Brown Swiss — Leighanne Swan, Sherman

Reserve Brown Swiss — Jillian Bond, South Dayton

Guernsey — Larsen Swan, Sherman

Reserve Guernsey — Larsen Swan, Sherman

Holstein — Ana Frederes, Falconer

Reserve Holstein — Liam Nickerson, Sherman

Jersey — Cole Nickerson, Corry, PA

Reserve Jersey — Evie Woodis, Dewittville

Milking Shorthorn — Ava Burridge, Cassadaga

Supreme Champion Heifer — Larsen Swan, Sherman

Reserve Supreme Champion — Cole Nickerson, Corry, PA

Jr. Two Year Old Cow

Holstein — 1st: Collin Crawford, Clymer; 2nd: Anna Carlberg, Frewsburg Hayseeds

Jersey — 1st: Cole Nickerson, Corry, PA; 2nd: Drake DeLand, Sherman

Sr. Two Year Old Cow

Brown Swiss — 1st: Carlie Ward, South Dayton

Holstein — 1st: Larsen Swan, Sherman; 2nd: Leighanne Swan, Sherman

Jersey — 1st: Laine Carpenter, Frewsburg Hayseeds

Jr. Three Year Old Cow

Guernsey — 1st: Esther Knappenberger, Westfield

Jersey — 1st: Ava Burridge, Cassadaga

Sr. Three Year Old Cow

Holstein — 1st: Liam Nickerson, Sherman

Four Year Old Cow (in milk)

Brown Swiss — 1st: Ava Burridge, Cassadaga

Holstein — 1st: Cole Nickerson, Corry, PA

Jersey — 1st: Cole Nickerson, Corry, PA

Five Year Old Cow

Brown Swiss — 1st: Carlie Ward, South Dayton

Dry Aged Cow

Guernsey — 1st: Esther Knappenberger, Westfield

Senior Champions

Brown Swiss — Carlie Ward, South Dayton

Reserve Brown Swiss — Carlie Ward, South Dayton

Guernsey — Esther Knappenberger, Westfield

Reserve Guernsey — Esther Knappenberger, Westfield

Holstein — Liam Nickerson, Sherman

Reserve Holstein — Collin Crawford, Clymer

Jersey — Ava Burridge, Cassadaga

Reserve Jersey — Cole Nickerson, Corry, PA

Best 3 Females, Bred & Owned by the 4-H Family — 1st: Ava Burridge, Cassadaga; 2nd: Esther Knappenberger, Westfield

Produce of Dam — 1st: Ava Burridge, Cassadaga; 2nd: Tyler Crowell, Stockton Panthers

Dam & Daughter — 1st: Ava Burridge, Cassadaga; 2nd: Anna Carlberg, Frewsburg Hayseeds

GRAND CHAMPIONS

Ayrshire — Dayne Jantzi, Sherman Kountry Kids

Brown Swiss — Carlie Ward, South Dayton

Reserve Brown Swiss — Carlie Ward, South Dayton

Guernsey — Esther Knappenberger, Westfield

Reserve Guernsey — Larsen Swan, Sherman

Holstein — Liam Nickerson, Sherman

Reserve Holstein — Collin Crawford, Clymer

Jersey — Ava Burridge, Cassadaga

Reserve Jersey — Cole Nickerson, Corry, PA

Milking Shorthorn — Ava Burridge, Cassadaga

SUPREME CHAMPION — Ava Burridge, Cassadaga

RESERVE SUPREME CHAMPION — Liam Nickerson, Sherman

HONORABLE MENTION — Cole Nickerson, Corry, PA

OVERALL BEST BRED & OWNED — Ava Burridge, Cassadaga

A special thank you to the many families and agribusinesses that made financial donations to the 4-H Dairy Project to help fund the trophies, ribbons and other special awards presented to the 4-H dairy youth at the 2023 Chautauqua County Fair 4-H Dairy Show. These donations will also be helpful in the upcoming 4-H year to assist with educational programs the 4-H dairy youth will participate in.

Thanks also to the 4-H Dairy Committee Advisory members who work throughout the year to plan the many 4-H dairy project activities for the youth: Bart Nickerson, President; Brian Jantzi, Vice-President; Arissa Hitchcock, Secretary; Kelsey Neckers, Treasurer; Dan Crowell, Lynn Harris, Lisa McConnell, Heidi Moss, Julie Nickerson, and Heather Woodis.