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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