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American Guernsey Youth Excel
Guernsey Youth Are Winners

The National Guernsey Convention has long been recognized for the many exciting opportunities and contests that it offers youth to participate in. Youth from across the country traveled to the convention in Dubuque, Iowa, this year to compete in the many contests and recognition programs offered by the American Guernsey Association. Numerous awards were presented for outstanding performance within the Guernsey breed with approximately 250 in attendance at the annual youth banquet on June 29, 2018.
National Outstanding Youth – This year’s winning National Outstanding Guernsey Youth is Daniel Ripley of Ripley Farms, Moravia, New York. Daniel is the 19-year-old son of Dan and Shari Ripley of Ripley Farms. He is a student at Morrisville State College studying Animal Science with a focus on dairy. This year’s Runner Up National Outstanding Guernsey Youth Candidate is Lauren Robison. Lauren hails from Hartdale Guernseys in Mulberry Grove, Illinois. She is the 20-yearold daughter of Kevin and Emily Hartmann.
National Guernsey Queen and Princess - Rachel Grober of Ionia, Iowa, was crowned the 2018 National Guernsey Queen while Jamie Trotter of Enon Valley, Pennsylvania, was crowned the 2018 National Guernsey Princess.
American Guernsey Association Scholarship Winner – Dalan Ealy, Pennsylvania is the recipient. The National AGA Youth Scholarship is awarded to one AGA Junior member each year at the National Guernsey Convention. The scholarship is in the amount of $750.
Schnebly Memorial Scholarship – The Schnebly Scholarship was established in 2010 by friends and family in memory of Seth and Genevieve Schnebly. Daniel Ripley, New York, was awarded the $500 scholarship.
Max Dawdy Scholarship – Jessica Schmitt, Iowa is the recipient. The Max Dawdy Scholarship is awarded to one or more AGA Junior members each year at the National AGA Convention in June. The scholarship is in the amount of $750 and is funded by the former Western Guernsey Sires group.
Turley Scholarships – Daniel Ripley, New York, and Levi Kindschi, Wisconsin, were the recipients. The Turley Youth Scholarship was established in 2002 with funds and donations generated from the syndicated sale of the young bull Penny Lane Royal Oak Turley. The scholarship honors the contributions of Ralph and Martha Turley to Guernsey youth and the Guernsey breed. Any AGA Junior member that has exhibited in a National Junior Guernsey show within the past three years is eligible to apply. Each gentleman received a $500.
Quiz Bowl – The National AGA Quiz Bowl contest is open to AGA Junior Members and is held at the National Guernsey Convention each year. This fun and competitive contest tests AGA youth’s Knowledge of the dairy industry and the Guernsey breed. There are Senior and Junior divisions. Teams are generally organized on the state level.
Eight teams from across the country competed in the senior quiz bowl on Friday. Pennsylvania members, Dalan Ealy, Jacob Poole, and Ayla and Mackenzie Blatt, coached by Melissa Kohler took home first place with the Florida team in a close second. That team consisted of Michael and Hunter Fiorretto, Cady and Jacob McGehee and is coached by Chris Holcomb and Teresa McGehee. The Most Valuable Player award went to Chelsey Jensen of Wisconsin.
Five teams competed in the junior quiz bowl with the Florida team consisting of Isabella Becera , Seth Greaves, Austin and Rebecca Holcomb and coached by Chris Holcomb and Teresa McGehee. Melissa Kohler also coached her junior team to a second place finish. The team consisted of Connor Ealy, Breanna Poole, Cassidy Hunt and Andrew Blauser. Andrew Blauser of Pennsylvania is the junior most valuable player this year.
Speaking contests – there are two different speaking contests offered at the National Guernsey Convention for youth to present their public speaking prowess. Each contest offers three age divisions. The prepared public speaking is a presentation of a previously prepared speech. The Extemporaneous contest is a speech prepared on a topic that is presented to the contestant 30 minutes prior to the presentation of the speech.
Prepared Public Speaking Contest:
Junior Division:
1st – Austin Holcomb, Florida
2nd – Rebecca Holcomb, Florida
3rd – Isabella Becerra, Florida
Intermediate Division:
1st – Kylan Keehan, Maryland
2nd – Elizabeth Ripley, New York
3rd – Macy Walason, Pennsylvania
Senior Division:
1st – Rachel Grober, Iowa
2nd – Ayla Blatt, Pennsylvania
3rd – Caylie Axtell, New York
Extemporaneous Speaking Contest:
Junior Division:
1st – Rebecca Holcomb, Florida
2nd – Isabella Becerra, Florida
3rd – Seth Greaves, Florida
Intermediate Division:
1st – Austin Holcomb, Florida
2nd – Mackenzie Blatt, Pennsylvania
3rd – Madison Davis, Pennsylvania
Senior Division:
1st – Ayla Blatt, Pennsylvania
2nd – Hunter Fiorretto, Florida
3rd – Michael Fiorretto, Florida
Additional contests and winners honored during the annual youth banquet.
Essay Contest
Junior Division:
1st – Rebecca Holcomb, Florida
2nd – Seth Greaves, Florida
3rd – Isabella Becerra, Florida
Intermediate Division:
1st – Mary Richardson, Ohio
2nd – Madison Davis, Pennsylvania
3rd – Makenzie Greaves, Florida
Senior Division:
1st – Michael Fioretto, Florida
2nd – Hunter Fioretto, Florida
Photo Contest:
1st – Whitney Yerina, Missouri
People’s Choice – Macy Walason, Pennsylvania
Folding Display Contest:
Junior Division:
1st – Lee Baker, Pennsylvania
2nd – Peyton O’Connell, Wisconsin
3rd – Isabella Becerra, Florida
Intermediate Division:
1st – Morghan O’Connell, Wisconsin
2nd – Victoria Becerra, Florida
3rd – Madison Davis, Pennsylvania
Senior Division:
1st – Michael Fioretto, Florida
2nd – Jessica Schmitt, Iowa
3rd – Chelsey Jensen, Wisconsin
Video Contest:
Junior Division:
1st – Seth Greaves, Florida
2nd – Austin Holcomb, Florida
Intermediate Division:
1st – Makenzie Greaves, Florida
2nd – Rebecca Holcomb, Florida
Junior Production Awards:
Warwick Manor Chases Silk
1st for Milk, 1st for Fat, 2nd for Protein
Karli Stoltzfus, Pennsylvania
Warwick Manor O Sadie
4th for Milk, 2nd for Fat, 1st for Protein
Kaila Stoltzfus, Pennsylvania
Ripley Farms YB C Taffy-ET
2nd for Milk, 5th for Protein
Daniel Ripley, New York
Knapps Regis Tabby-ET
3rd for Milk, 3rd for Protein
Karli Stoltzfus, Pennsylvania
Warwick Manor A Cuddles
5th for Milk, 3rd for Fat, 4th for Protein
Karli Stoltzfus, Pennsylvania
Warwick Manor Rebels Becca
4th for Fat
Karli Stoltzfus, Pennsylvania
Sniders Yogi Kesha
5th for Fat
Kaila Stoltzfus, Pennsylvania
Group of Three Cows Awards:
Karli Stoltzfus, Pennsylvania
1st for Milk, 1st for Fat, 1st for Protein
Warwick Manor Chases Silk
Knapps Regis Tabby-ET
Warwick Manor A Cuddles
Kaila Stoltzfus, Pennsylvania
2nd for Milk, 2nd for Fat, 2nd Protein
Sniders Yogi Kesha
Warwick Manor O Sadie
Warwick Manor Brady Kody
Daniel Ripley, New York
3rd for milk, 3rd for Fat, 3rd for Protein
Ripley Farms YB C Taffy-ET
Ripley Farms DL Quinette
Ripley Farms Nico C Reena
Elizabeth Ripley, New York
4th for milk, 4th for fat, 4th for protein
Thurston Farms Pie Snowflake
Coulee Crest AP Linzy-ET
Ripley Farms Legend Bethann
Lauren Robison, Illinois
5th for milk, 5th for fat, 5th for protein
Hartdale Alstar Cutie
Hartdale Kringle Fiesta
Hartdale Showtime Confetti
Junior Gold Star Breeders:
Daniel Ripley, New York
Ripley Farms DL Quinette VG-86
Lauren Robison, Illinois
Hartdale Alstar Cutie EX-92
Hartdale Top Notch Coco VG-87
Dalan Ealy, Pennsylvania
Ealy Highland Casanova Yankee VG-87
Ealy Highland Copper Coin VG-86
Guernsey Gold Production Contest Winners:
The Guernsey Gold Heifer sale began in 1986 as a small sale of select open heifers for junior members. Animals now sell in various sales across the country and designated as a Guernsey Gold offering can only be purchased by an AGA junior member between the ages of six and nineteen. The heifer must calve before reaching 30 months of age to be eligible to compete in the production contest. All must be on test. Each animal that calves receives $100. The production contest is based on the animal’s two-year-old mature equivalent pounds of protein. Animals eligible this year for the contest were purchased in 2016. A percentage of the sale gross of Guernsey Gold animals is put aside for the distribution to winners. This year’s winners are:
1st Place: 1st Place: Knapps Spider Maxima-ET, Owned by: Brooke George, PA and awarded $1,727.00
2nd Place: Trotacre Aaron Jane-ET, Owned by: Madison Lee Moore, TX and awarded $1,220.25
3rd Place: Jens Gold Copper Qjess, Owned By: Makayla & Austin Hickman, TN and awarded $813.50
4th Place: Pine Grove Legend Meg, Owned By: John H. Myers II, MD and awarded $406.75
Bla Arl Popcorns Laredo Poptart, owned Mason Moore, TX also completed a record in the required time frame and he received $100
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