The four judges who will preside over the Youth Showmanship Contest at this year’s All-American Dairy Show have been announced. The contest will take place on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex AND Expo Center in Harrisburg, Pa. There will be no on-site registration this year; all participants must register online by Sept. 4, at allamericandairyshow.com/youth-showmanship-contest/.
Katie Stevens of Frederick, Md., will judge the Junior Showmanship Contest. Katie, along with her husband Michael, their three daughters, Bailee, Aubree, and Hadlee, operate Daysland Acres, raising registered Milking Shorthorns that they exhibit at state and national levels. She serves as the Director of the Frederick County Office of Agriculture, where she champions agricultural opportunities and acts as a crucial liaison between the industry and the county. In addition to their work with Milking Shorthorns, Katie and Michael have diversified their operation adding a cut flower operation, Daysland Vista Blooms, selling bouquets directly to consumers. Their family has bred or developed over 40 All-American Milking Shorthorn nominations. A graduate of Virginia Tech with a degree in dairy science, Katie has judged shows across the East Coast, including the Winter National Junior Milking Shorthorn Show.
Lauren Schwartzbeck of Gettysburg, Pa., will place the Intermediate Division of the Showmanship Contest. Lauren is an eighth-grade teacher at the Gettysburg School District. Outside of teaching she enjoys working with the calves and heifers on her husband’s family farm, Peace & Plenty Farm, alongside her husband, Austin, and two children, Addison and Cole. Lauren was active in her local 4-H, dairy judging and Jr. Holstein activities. She has participated in the All-American Showmanship Contest and won the senior fitting and showing competition in 2014. She enjoys showing and exhibiting Holstein cattle with her family at the local, state and national level.
Jamie Howard of Burgessville, Ontario, will serve as the judge for the Senior Showmanship Contest. He was born and raised in Flemingsburg, Ky., where his career in the dairy industry began with the ownership and operation of Howard-View Holsteins. Although the herd consisted of just 35-40 registered Holsteins, it was recognized as the eighth-highest classified herd in the United States from 2006-2007. Currently, Jamie operates Howard-View Holsteins from his family’s small hobby farm in Burgessville, Ontario, as a small breeding establishment while serving as the Director of Sales at EastGen. He is known for developing national show-level animals and marketing elite genetics world-wide. Jamie, alongside his wife Angela, remains active in the dairy industry by supporting his children Madison, Morgan, and McKenzie and coaching them in dairy judging and showmanship in 4-H. He has extensive experience in dairy judging, including being second-high individual in the 4-H Judging Contest at the 1985 World Dairy Expo, and has judged numerous shows across several dairy breeds, from county to state championships. He also remains on the judging list for the Holstein USA.
Tim Seipt of Easton, Pa., will judge the fitting portion of the Showmanship Contest. Tim, his wife Alexis, and their two daughters farm with his parents at Keystone Farm. They milk 60 Registered Holsteins and farm around 300 acres. Prior to returning home to the farm, Tim earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science with a minor in ag business from Penn State. After graduation, he spent about 10 years as a full-time fitter, preparing cattle for sales and shows across the U.S., Canada, and Australia, before returning to the family farm. He has helped prepare cattle for sales and shows across the US, Canada and Australia. Tim has enjoyed showing ever since his 4-H days and has exhibited Keystone cattle over the years at a county to national level.
For more information, contact the All-American Dairy Show at 717.787.2905, or by email at aads@pa.gov, or visit the website at allamericandairyshow.com.
