MEDIA RELEASE
Brad Rugg, Superintendent, 612-624-8443
TWENTY-FIVE YOUTH RECOGNIZED IN DAIRY
SHOWCASE
St. Paul, MN (8/28/2011) – The forecast is promising the future of Minnesota’s dairy industry.
Twenty-five stand-out and successful 4-H dairy youth were honored today during the 3rd
Minnesota 4-H Dairy Showcase. The program aims to recognize the involvement, dedication, and
passion of Minnesota’s 4-H dairy youth.
Selected youth received a monetary award for their accomplishments. Annual event awards
nearly $20,000 to dedicated 4-H’ers in the dairy project. State Fair 4-H dairy exhibitors who
received a blue or purple ribbon in their respective class were eligible to apply for the Showcase. A
scorecard determined the Top 25 and consisted of a Leadership Profile completed online. Those
recognized included:
Place
Name
Parents
City
County
Award
1
Kelsey Mussman
Mike & Julie Mussman
Claremont
Steele
$2000
2
Haely Lieding
Todd & Stacy Lieding
Fountain
Fillmore
$1750
3
Robert Sexton
Vince & Sheri Sexton
Millville
Wabasha
$1500
4
Michael Schmitt
Mark and Natalie Schmitt
Rice
Benton
$1250
5
Mary Liebenstein
Paul & Barb Liebenstein
Dundas
Rice
$1000
6
Kristin Erf
David & Kathy Erf
Oakdale
Washington
$930
7
Andrew Kern
Ken & Lisa Kern
Ellendale
Steele
$860
8
Aaron Thesing
Doug and Cindy Thesing
Winona
Winona
$800
9
Paul Johnson
Richard & Linda Johnson
La Crescent
Houston
$750
10
Rebecca Groos
Sean & Linda Groos
Howard Lake
Wright
$700
11
Boston Portner
Tom & Mary Portner
Sleepy Eye
Brown
$600
12
Travis Troendle
Pat & Chris Troendle
Lanesboro
Fillmore
$600
13
Austin Davis
Loring and Carol Davis
Cokato
Wright
$600
14
Emily Pieper
Ray and Bridgett Pieper
New Prague
Rice
$600
15
Nathan Donnay
John & Connie Donnay
Glencoe
McLeod
$600
16
Andrew Plumski
Lawrence & Denise Plumski
Little Falls
Benton
$500
17
Sierra Swanson
David & Kari Swanson
Hutchinson
McLeod
$500
18
Abby Hopp
Doug & Healther Hopp
Chatfield
Fillmore
$500
© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. University of Minnesota Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer. In
accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this material is available in alternative formats upon request. Direct requests to the Extension Store at
800-876-8636. Printed on recycled and recyclable paper with at least 10 percent postconsumer waste material.
19
Andrew Hornberg
Ron & Renee Hornberg
Winona
Winona
$500
20
Sabrina Portner
Tom & Mary Portner
Sleepy Eye
Brown
$500
21
Kyle Viland
Steve & Maria Viland
Pipestone
Pipestone
$400
22
Lance Sexton
Vince & Sheri Sexton
Millville
Wabasha
$400
23
Jonathon Schmitt
Mark & Natalie Schmitt
Rice
Benton
$400
24
Bernice Vander Waal
John & Berlinda Vander Wall
Pipestone
Pipestone
$400
25
Peter Schell
Ron & Terry Schell
Lewiston
Winona
$400
The Profile included the individual’s project leadership, dairy-related activities, and
community involvement. Bonus points were given to individuals receiving champion and reserve
champion honors.
Generous sponsors provided just over $23,000 to be dispersed to youth with twenty
percent of funds raised set aside for 4-H dairy youth development. Sponsors at the Milk Can level,
donating greater than $1,000 included the University of Minnesota Gopher Dairy Club, AgStar
Financial Services and Dr. Les Hansen. At the Gallon level, donating between $500 and $999
included Minnesota DHIA, IBA Dairy Supplies, Orbit Farms, Minnesota Farmer’s Union, Kwik Trip,
Minnesota Corn Grower’s Association, Minnesota Farm Bureau, Sysco, Minnesota Soybean
Grower’s Association, Midwest Dairy Association, Pfizer Animal Health, Minnesota Select Sires,
Davisco Foods, Genex Cooperative, and Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI).
At the quart level, sponsored donated between $200 and $499. These donors included
Kathleen Zeman, Minnesota Brown Swiss Association, Hubbard Feeds, Apple Acres Farm, Barka
Milk Hauling, Brown County 4-H Livestock Committee, Minnesota Jersey Association, Olmsted
County ADA, Rice County 4-H Boosters, Minnesota Holstein Association, Minnesota Junior
Holstein Association, Johnan Holsteins, Semex, Albert Lea Seed, Bongards, Accelerated Genetics,
AgCountry Farm Credit, American AGCO Trading Co., Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Midwest
E.T. Service, Dairy Farmers of America, Wolf Creek Dairy, Riverview LLP, Ecolab, Swiss Valley
Farms, Raylore Farm, Sjostrom Farms, Stanley Diers, Minnesota Milking Shorthorn Association,
Munson Lakes Nutrition, Organic Valley, Cow Collector’s MOO-seum, Robin Kinney, Schultz Milk
Hauling, Classic Mix, Plainview Milk Products Co-op, Steele County ADA, First District Association,
VitaPlus, Alltech Biotech Center, and Land O’Lakes. Additional sponsors to the 4-H Dairy Showcase
joined at the pint level donating up to $199, and can be found on the program’s website
http://mnlivestockbreeders.org where you can click on 4-H Dairy Showcase.
The Minnesota 4-H Dairy Showcase is a joint effort between the Minnesota Livestock Breeders
Association and the Minnesota 4-H Dairy Project Development Committee.
Photos of the 2011 Minnesota 4-H Shows at the State Fair can be found at http://www.fourh.umn.edu/fairresults additional
information on the Minnesota 4-H Dairy Showcase can be found at http://www.mnlivestockbreeders.org.
© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. University of Minnesota Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer. In
accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this material is available in alternative formats upon request. Direct requests to the Extension Store at
800-876-8636. Printed on recycled and recyclable paper with at least 10 percent postconsumer waste material.