News Release

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Dairy Youth Show Off Skills During 2021 WDE Youth Showmanship Contest 

MADISON, WIS – Youth from across North America participated in the 2021 World Dairy Expo^® Youth Showmanship Contest on Monday, September 27. Exactly 280 exhibitors competed in this year’s contest with youth from Ohio and Iowa coming out on top of the three divisions.

Winning the Junior Division and the W. Terry Howard First Place Award of a custom embroidered jacket courtesy of Images Custom Embroidery was Colton Thomas of North Lewisburg, Ohio. Thomas also received clippers sponsored by Andis Company. Jonathan Krogman of Ashton, Iowa won the Intermediate Division and the Howard Voegeli First Place Award, a custom embroidered jacket presented by Images Custom Embroidery. The Iowa native also collected clippers from Andis Company. In the Senior Division, Cole Kruse of Dyersville, Iowa placed first and won the Keith King First Place Award, which was also a custom embroidered jacket from Images Custom Embroidery. Kruse additionally received a semen tank courtesy of MVE Biological Solutions. Grant Itle of Loretto, Pa. placed second in the Senior Division and received clippers sponsored by Andis Company.

Karen Wheatley, Stephanie Aves Schroeder and Steven Fraser served as the official judges of the Junior, Intermediate and Senior Division, respectively.

Top 15 youth winners of each division are as follows:

Junior (Ages 9-13):

1. Colton Thomas, North Lewisburg, Ohio
2. Ana Mikkelson, Stoughton, Wis.
3. Peyton Voegeli, Poynette, Wis.
4. Brianne Vandoske, Cleveland, Wis.
5. Sophie Depew, Argyle, N.Y.
6. Braden Ronnebaum, Earlville, Iowa
7. Hannah Visser, Hutchinson, Minn.
8. Keston Martin, Tulare, Calif.
9. Noah MacDonald, Dekalb Junction, N.Y.
10. Chloe Lamb, Oakfield, N.Y.
11. Bentley Brantmeier, Hilbert, Wis.
12. Brady McConnell, Lancaster, Wis.
13. Preston Peabody, Buskirk, N.Y.
14. Taylor Ferguson, Mount Horeb, Wis.
15. Justin Brandel, Lake Mills, Wis.

Intermediate (Ages 14-16):

1. Jonathan Krogman, Ashton, Iowa
2. Isaac Folts, North Collins, N.Y.
3. Calvin Bening, Arlington, Wis.
4. Amelia Stone, Greenfield, Ind.
5. Lillian Finke, London, Ohio
6. Tessa Schmocker, Whitewater, Wis.
7. Mason Ziemba, Durhamville, N.Y.
8. Rebecca Murphy, Poynette, Wis.
9. Kayla Visser, Hutchinson, Minn.
10. Brooke Zillges, Larsen, Wis.
11. Wesley Winch, Fennimore, Wis.
12. Sarah Hill, New Haven, Vt.
13. Kyleigh Forster, Bakersfield, Calif.
14. Logan Harbaugh, Marion, Wis.
15. Summer Hammann, Barron, Wis.

Senior (Ages 17-21):

1. Cole Kruse, Dyersville, Iowa
2. Grant Itle, Loretto, Pa.
3. Morgan Stone, Greenfield, Ind.
4. Emma Finch, Utopia, Ontario, Canada
5. Megan Ford, Thornbury, Ontario, Canada
6. Dakota Brown, Deerfield, Wis.
7. Jordan Hawthorne, Listowel, Ontario, Canada
8. Dana Johnson, Tomah, Wis.
9. Marissa Topp, New Bremen, Ohio
10. Mariah Eichenberg, Fort Atkinson, Wis.
11. Abby Rouland, Clifton Springs, N.Y.
12. Ashlee Garbers, La Crosse, Wis.
13. Bracken Schumann, Richmond, Utah
14. Gracie Ziegler, Appleton, Wis.
15. Grady Wendorf, Ixonia, Wis.

This year’s Expo Youth Showmanship Contest sponsors also included: Double S Liquid Feed Services, Inc., E-Zee Milking Equipment, LLC, MVE Biological Solutions, New Holland and 4dBarn.

Serving as the meeting place of the global dairy industry, World Dairy Expo brings together the latest in dairy innovation and the best cattle in North America. The dairy industry will return to Madison, Wis. for the 54^th event, September 28 – October 2, 2021, when the world’s largest dairy-focused trade show, dairy and forage seminars, a world-class dairy cattle show and more will be on display. Download the World Dairy Expo mobile event app, visit worlddairyexpo.com or follow WDE on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Spotify, Instagram or YouTube for more information

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