Dairy exhibitors who competed at the Pennsylvania Farm Show earlier this month teamed up with their local legislators to help them compete in the VIP Dairy Showmanship Contest on Wednesday, Jan. 8, in Harrisburg. Sen. John Eichelberger, Blair County, won the competition with a four-year-old Brown Swiss cow provided by the Stanton family of Everett, Bedford County.
The third time was the charm for Sen. Eichelberger who has competed in the showmanship contest for the past three years. The VIP Dairy Showmanship Contest is an annual event hosted by the Center for Dairy Excellence and Penn Ag Industries Association. This is the fifth year for the event, which connects legislators with their dairy farm constituents who attend the Farm Show.
Kirk Sattazahn of Select Sire Power in Womelsdorf, Berks County, served as Master of Ceremonies, while Tom Arrowsmith, Peach Bottom, Lancaster County, judged the contest. Senator Elder Vogel Jr., Allegheny, Beaver and Lawrence counties, hosted the event, while Senator Mike Waugh, York County, and Representatives Mark Keller, Perry County, and Mike Tobash, Schuylkill and Berks Counties, served as coaches for showmen and their teams.
“We are grateful to Kirk, Tom and all of the dairy exhibitors who volunteered their time and their animals to make this year’s event a success,” said Emily Yeiser, dairy initiatives manager at the Center for Dairy Excellence. “Legislators look forward to the event all year, and we were pleased to see so many take the time to meet with their exhibitors and learn more about the importance of the dairy industry.”
Seventeen legislators competed in the contest. Others who participated, along with the dairy exhibitors who provided their animals are listed below.
Representative Garth Everett, Montoursville, competed in the contest, with an animal provided by Michala Kuhlman, Bradford County.
Representative Jaret Gibbons, representing Lawrence, Beaver and Butler Counties, showed an animal from Jennifer Mapes from Mifflin County.
Representative Mark Gillen from Berks County exhibited an animal from Melissa Hix in Berks County.
Representative Keith Gillespie from York County showed an animal provided by the Johnson Family from York, York County.
Representative Doyle Heffley, who represents Carbon County competed with an animal from Carrie Shuman, Columbia County.
Representative John Lawrence representing Chester County exhibited an animal from The Nolan Family, Chester County.
Representative Ryan Mackenzie who represents both Berks and Lehigh Counties used an animal provided by Emily Heilinger, Lebanon County.
Representative Ron Miller representing York County competed in the competition with a calf provided by Brian Nailor, Cumberland County.
Representative Brandon Neuman representing Washington County exhibited an animal from Amber Gabel, Perry County.
Representative Tommy Sankey from Clearfield County, exhibited an animal from The Heeter Family of Huntingdon County.
Representative Pam Snyder who covers Fayette, Greene and Washington Counties showed an animal from Stephanie Stahl, Somerset County.
Representative Will Tallman who covers Adams and York Counties who showed an animal provided by the Riser Family of Gettysburg, Adams County.
Senator Rich Alloway who represents Franklin, Adams and portions of York Counties exhibited an animal from Lauren Nell of Gettysburg, Adams County.
Senator Judy Schwank, who represents part of Berks County, exhibited an animal from the Wetzel Family of Lancaster County.
Senator Tim Solobay, who represents Beaver and Green counties showed an animal provided today by Tara Hostetter of Somerset County.
Senator Rob Teplitz, representing Dauphin and York Counties, exhibited an animal from the Johnson Family of Rutters Farm from York, York County.
For more information about the VIP Dairy Showmanship Competition, please contact Emily Yeiser at the Center for Dairy Excellence at 717-346-0849 or [email protected]