Despite a rainy day, 80 junior and senior 4-H members from across the province participated in the 26th Annual Inter-County Judging Competition on July 30 at the Metcalfe Fairgrounds in Metcalfe, Ontario.
Participants began the day writing a quiz based on material from the “You Be The Judge” manual, which all young judges use to hone their skills. After completing the 50-point quiz, the 4-Her’s evaluated three classes of Holsteins, three classes of Jerseys, two classes of Ayrshires and one class of Brown Swiss.
After lunch, participants reconvened to give their reasons for evaluation by the official judges of the day: Murray Reissner, Lorne Briscoe, Alan Nanne, Bobby Jarrell, Craig Templeton, Hugh Hunter, Phyllis MacMaster, Kevin Johnston, and Lindsay Cavanagh. Senior members gave reasons on six of the classes they judged in the morning while juniors gave reasons on three. The official judges gave their official placings and cuts to finish off the afternoon.
A fabulous chicken dinner was enjoyed by all participants, volunteers and sponsors as the group looked forward to the announcement of the four participants who had won the 10-day all-expenses-paid trip to Madison, Wisconsin to attend World Dairy Expo.
Chairman Murray Reissner thanked the sponsors and volunteers for the successful day. Regis Tardif of John Deere, the event’s premier sponsor, congratulated all participants and wished the winning team well in Madison.
The following winners will represent Ontario at the World Dairy Expo where they will compete in the National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest; Conner Sikma of Durham East, Deanna Ringelberg of Wentworth, Madison Dyment of Brant and Derek Van de Walle of Perth. They were among the top winners of the day and will travel to Madison for 10 days in October with Bert Stewart and Murray Reissner as coaches.
Ava Donar was named High Individual winner in the senior category. She also won the High Reasons, High Other Breeds and was Runner-Up for High Senior Quiz. High Individual Runner-Up was won by Jenna Elliott of Lambton.
Winning High Senior Team and Coach this year was the Lambton County team made up of Michelle Slaughter and Jenna Elliott, coached by Brian Slaughter. The Runner-up High Team was made up of Josh Karn and Lars Zeldenrijk of Oxford. They were coached by Dean Karn.
The junior division saw many well-rounded participants this year. High Individual was won by Brent Sayles of Brant, and the High Individual Runner-Up was Mikayla Ringelberg of Wentworth. This year’s High Team in the junior division was won by Emma Roszell and Chloe Grabell of Niagara South and coached by Brenda Roszell. The Runner-up junior team was won by Wentworth County with Mikayla Ringelberg and Jack Melia making up the team, coached by Janet Ringelberg.
With the long distance for many 4-H members to travel from the west end of the province to the east end, a bus was rented to transport about 30 members and chaperones to the event. A huge thank you to the sponsors who stepped forward to make this possible; the Ontario Dairy Youth Trust Fund, Scotiabank
Norwell Dairy Systems Ltd., Sparlings, Floradale Feed Mill, Main Street Animal Hospital, Oxford County Holstein Club, Grand Valley Fortifiers and Oxford Bovine Veterinarians.
Without the dedication and support of the Ontario Holstein Branch and premier sponsor John Deere as well as the many other sponsors, committee members and volunteers, the Inter-County Cattle Judging Competition would not be possible. They made the event run smoothly.
Congratulations to all the 2015 winners listed below!!!
SENIOR DIVISION RESULTS
High Team and Coach – Sponsored by Select Sires Genervations
- Michelle Slaughter and Jenna Elliott, coached by Brian Slaughter (Lambton)
Runner-Up High Team and Coach – Sponsored by C.I.B.C.
- Josh Karn and Lars Zeldenrijk, coached by Dean Karn (Oxford)
High Individual – Sponsored by Bert Stewart
- Ava Donar (Durham East)
Runner-Up High Individual – In Memory of Bill Dobbin
- Jenna Elliott (Lambton)
High Placing – Sponsored by Clarence Diefenbacher
- Conner Sikma (Durham East)
Runner-Up High Placing – Sponsored by Fradon Holsteins
- Laura DeKlein (Middlesex)
High Reasons – Sponsored in memory of Joe Snyder
- Ava Donar (Durham East)
Runner-Up High Reasons – Sponsored by Hessholm Holsteins
- Madison Dyment (Brant)
High Holsteins – Sponsored by Lowell Lindsay
- Michelle Slaughter (Lambton)
Runner-Up High Holsteins – Sponsored by Riverdown Holsteins
- Jenna Elliott (Lambton)
High Jersey – Sponsored by Joel Bagg
- Madison Dyment (Brant)
Runner-Up High Jersey – Sponsored by Bell City Jerseys
- Michelle Slaughter (Lambton)
High Other Breeds – Sponsored by Terry Beckett
- Ava Donar (Durham East)
Runner-Up High Other Breeds – Sponsored by Murray Reissner
- Courtney Henderson (Carleton)
High Quiz – Sponsored by Paul Larmer
- Madison Dyment (Brant)
Runner-Up High Quiz – Sponsored in memory of Bill Edelstein
- Ava Donar (Durham East)
Rookie Award – Sponsored by Ken Empey
- Kyle Stockdale (Peterborough)
JUNIOR DIVISION RESULTS
High Team and Coach – Sponsored by TD
- Emma Roszell and Chloe Grabell, coached by Brenda Roszell (Niagara South)
Runner-Up High Team and Coach – Sponsored by Scotiabank
- Mikayla Ringelberg and Jack Melia, coached by
Janet Ringelberg (Wentworth)
High Individual – Sponsored by Phyllis MacMaster
- Brent Sayles (Brant)
Runner-Up High Individual – Sponsored by Geoff Innes
- Mikayla Ringelberg (Wentworth)
High Placing – Sponsored by Jason French
- Brent Sayles (Brant)
Runner-Up High Placing – Sponsored by Glennholme Holsteins
- Mikayla Ringelberg (Wentworth)
High Reasons – Sponsored by Steven Fraser
- Brent Sayles (Brant)
Runner-Up High Reasons – Sponsored by Earl Osborne
- Alex McKay (Oxford)
High Holsteins – Sponsored by Crovalley Holsteins
- Cameron Barkey (Durham East)
Runner-Up High Holsteins – Sponsored by Doug Reaney & Family
- Lily Bullock (Peterborough)
High Jerseys – Sponsored by R.J. Farms
- Brent Sayles (Brant)
Runner-Up High Jersey – Sponsored by Maple Leaf Jerseys
- Lily Bullock (Peterborough)
High Other Breeds – Sponsored by Jordan Eastman
- Mikayla Ringelberg (Wentworth)
Runner-Up High Other Breeds – Sponsored by Canadian Guernsey Association
- Clarissa McCallum (Frontenac)
High Quiz – Sponsored by Altona Lea Farms
- Mikayla Ringelberg (Wentworth)
Runner-Up High Quiz – Sponsored by Quinndale Holsteins
- Emma Roszell (Niagara)
Rookie Award – Sponsored by Ken Empey
- Lily Bullock (Peterborough)
