The sun was hot, the cattle were clipped and the excitement was high as the 2012 Inter-County Judging competition kicked off at the Embro Fairgrounds on Thursday, August 2nd. A total of 86 participants took part in the competition, judging nine classes of cattle from area farms throughout the day.

Participants started off the day by writing a quiz based on material from the “You be the Judge” manual, which all young judges use to hone their skills. Upon completion of the 50-point quiz, participants headed outside to evaluate three classes of Holsteins, three classes of Jerseys and one class each of Brown Swiss, Guernsey and Ayrshire cattle.

After spending the morning judging, participants broke for lunch before reconvening to give reasons in the afternoon. Seniors gave reasons on six of the classes they judged that morning, while juniors gave reasons on three classes. Participants later gathered in the main building to receive official placings and cuts from the day’s judges: Alicia Horne, Murray Reissner, Bruce Sayles, Jennifer Peart, Mike West, Steve Fraser, Ken Empey, Art Groenewegen and Brian Carscadden.

At 4:30, participants gathered for a roast beef dinner and waited in anticipation to find out which four participants had won the 10-day all-expenses-paid trip to Madison, Wisconsin to attend World Dairy Expo.

Following dinner, Jason French of the Ontario Holstein Branch thanked the sponsors and volunteers for making the day so successful. Sarah McIntosh of John Deere – the event’s premier sponsor – congratulated all participants and wished the winning team well in Madison.

This year, Vanessa Crowley of Peterborough, Michael Lupton of Oxford, Jenna Elliott of Lambton and Chris Steven, also of Lambton, will represent Ontario at World Dairy Expo where they will compete in the 91st National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest. 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.

Following in her siblings’ footsteps in years past, Vanessa Crowley was named High Individual winner in the senior category. High Individual runner-up was Michael Lupton.
Winning High Senior Team this year was the Lambton County team made up of Jenna Elliott and Chris Steven and coached by Brian Slaughter. Michael Lupton and Marty Hazeleger of Oxford, coached by Dean Karn, were runners-up.

In the junior division, Mikayla Ringelberg of Wentworth had an outstanding day. She won High Individual and was named Junior Rookie of the day. High Individual runner-up was Peter Leach of Kawartha Lakes. This year’s High Team in the junior division was made up of Madison Dyment and Trent Jones of Oxford, coached by Dean Karn. Brent and Connor Sikma of Durham East, coached by Glenn Barkey, were runners-up. Congratulations to all 2012 winners listed below!

Thank you to the fantastic group of volunteers and committee members who went above and beyond to make everything run smoothly! We also wish to thank the Ontario Dairy Youth Trust Fund and John Deere, as well as the numerous sponsors and supporters who continue to make the event possible each year.

• SENIOR DIVISION RESULTS
  • High Team and Coach – Sponsored by Genervations – Jenna Elliott and Chris Steven, coached by Brian Slaughter (Lambton)
  • Runner-Up High Team and Coach – Sponsored by C.I.B.C. –  Michael Lupton and Marty Hazeleger, coached by Dean Karn (Oxford)
  • High Individual – Sponsored by Bert Stewart -• Vanessa Crowley (Peterborough)
  • Runner-Up High Individual – In Memory of Bill Dobbin – Michael Lupton (Oxford)
  • High Placing – Sponsored by Clarence Diefenbacher – Grant Armstrong (Northumberland)
  • Runner-Up High Placing – Sponsored by Fradon Holsteins – Cameron Stockdale (Durham East)
  • High Reasons – Sponsored by Joe Snyder -Alan Nanne (Lanark)
  • Runner-Up High Reasons – Sponsored by Hessholm Holsteins -Michael Lupton (Oxford)
  • High Holsteins – Sponsored by Lowell Lindsay – Dan Werry (Durham West)
  • Runner-Up High Holsteins – Sponsored by Riverdown Holsteins – Marty Hazeleger (Oxford)
  • High Jersey – Sponsored by Joel Bagg – Alan Nanne (Lanark)
  • Runner-Up High Jersey – Sponsored by Bell City Jerseys – Jenna Elliott (Lambton)
  • High Other Breeds – Sponsored by Terry Beckett – Vanessa Crowley (Peterborough)
  • Runner-Up High Other Breeds – Sponsored by Murray Reissner – Grant Armstrong (Northumberland)
  • High Quiz – Sponsored by Paul Larmer – Courtney O’Neill (Lennox & Addington)
  • Runner-Up High Quiz – Sponsored by Bill Edelstein – Julia Lensvelt (Perth)
  • Rookie Award – Sponsored by Ken Empey – Chris Steven (Lambton)
• JUNIOR DIVISION RESULTS
  • High Team and Coach – Sponsored by TD Canada Trust -Madison Dyment and Trent Jones, coached by Dean Karn (Oxford)
  • Runner-Up High Team and Coach – Sponsored by John Deere – Connor Sikma and Brent Sikma, coached by Glenn Barkey (Durham East)
  • High Individual – Sponsored by Phyllis MacMaster – Mikayla Ringelberg (Wentworth)
  • Runner-Up High Individual – Sponsored by Geoff Innes – Peter Leach (Kawartha Lakes)
  • High Placing – Sponsored by Jason French -Connor Sikma (Durham East)
  • Runner-Up High Placing – Sponsored by Ebyholme Farms – Peter Leach (Kawartha Lakes)
  • High Reasons – Sponsored by Steven Fraser – Peter Leach (Kawartha Lakes)
  • Runner-Up High Reasons – Sponsored by Earl Osborne – Mikayla Ringelberg (Wentworth)
  • High Holsteins – Sponsored by Select Sires – Brett Stockdale (Durham East)
  • Runner-Up High Holsteins – Sponsored by Select Sires – Justin Velthuis (Carleton)
  • High Jerseys – Sponsored by R.J. Farms – Peter Leach (Kawartha Lakes)
  • Runner-Up High Jersey – Sponsored by Maple Leaf Jerseys – Mikayla Ringelberg (Wentworth)
  • High Quiz – Sponsored by Altona Lea Farms – Madison Dyment (Oxford)
  • Runner-Up High Quiz – Sponsored by Quinndale Holsteins – Mikayla Ringelberg (Wentworth)
  • Rookie Award – Sponsored by Ken Empey – Mikayla Ringelberg (Wentworth)

Christine Reitsma, an 18-year-old college student from Sauk Centre, was crowned the 59th Princess Kay of the Milky Way in an evening ceremony at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Wednesday.

Reitsma, the first Princess Kay to hail from Stearns County, will serve as the official goodwill ambassador for more than 4,000 Minnesota dairy farmers. Christine is the daughter of Paul and Carolyn Reitsma of Sauk Centre, and will attend the University of Minnesota Twin Cities this fall studying applied economics.

County dairy princesses from throughout Minnesota competed for the Princess Kay of the Milky Way title. Victoria Haler of Waconia, representing Carver County, and Kelsey Mussman of Claremont, representing Steele County, were selected as runners-up. Mussman was also named Miss Congeniality. Scholarships were awarded to Reitsma, Mussman and Laura Rosenhammer of Sleepy Eye, representing Brown County.

One of Reitsma’s first duties as Princess Kay will be to sit in a rotating cooler for about six hours on the opening day of the Minnesota State Fair to have her likeness sculpted in a 90-pound block of butter. Each of the other finalists will have her likeness carved in butter during the fair, as well. This year marks butter sculptor Linda Christensen’s 41st year carving the Princess Kay of the Milky Way winner and finalists at the Minnesota State Fair.

Throughout her year-long reign as Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Reitsma will make public appearances helping consumers make a connection with Minnesota dairy farm families who are dedicated to producing wholesome milk while caring for their animals and natural resources.

Princess Kay candidates are judged on their general knowledge of the dairy industry, communication skills, personality and enthusiasm for dairy promotion. The Midwest Dairy Association sponsors the Princess Kay program with funds provided by dairy farmers.

Midwest Dairy Association is a non-profit organization that provides consumers with information about the nutrition and wholesomeness of dairy foods, and conducts research and promotional programs.