Wisconsin dairy youth provided an up-close look at the state”s dairy industry for urban fairgoers at last week”s Wisconsin Junior State Fair. County exhibits featuring top-notch cattle and dairy promotional themes were judged as a part of the herdsmanship competition. Dairy youth exhibitors from 43 Wisconsin counties competed for the title of champion herdsmen.

In the large herd competition, which represents groups with 20 or more animals, 26 counties competed, with 7 earning blue ribbons. Barron County came out on top and was followed closely by Sauk, Green, Dodge, Rock, Eau Claire, and Washington counties, respectively.

Marquette County took the small herd contest, with 17 groups competing. Small herds consist of 5 to 19 animals. Also receiving blue group recognition was: La Crosse, Richland, Portage, and Pierce counties.

The groups were judged on the preparation and care of the exhibit, which includes animal care, as well as the appearance and attitude of their youth exhibitors. Herdsmanship judges represented various aspects of the dairy industry that included extension personnel, Wisconsin agriculture instructors, breed and AI representatives, veterinarians, dairymen, professional show people, and agricultural press.

In a separate category, displays were judged on their educational merit, originality, and attractiveness. The educational displays were part of each county”s dairy cattle exhibit at the fair. “Celebrating Family Farms Past, Present, and Future” and “From Our Place To The Dairy Case” were suggested themes that the youth incorporated in their displays. Five counties were recognized with blue ribbons. They were, in order of placing, Washington, Waukesha, Sheboygan, Sauk, and Oconto Counties. Every county that had a worthy display received $50 for their efforts.

A complete list of the herdsmanship results follows.

Large Herd Results

1st Blue – Barron

2nd Blue – Sauk

3rd Blue – Green

4th Blue – Dodge

5th Blue – Rock

6th Blue – Eau Claire

7th Blue – Washington

1st Red – Sheboygan

2nd Red – Polk

3rd Red – Monroe

4th Red – Waukesha

5th Red – Manitowoc

6th Red – Jefferson

7th Red – Calumet

1st White – Lafayette

2nd White – Iowa

3rd White – Wood

4th White – Vernon

5th White – Chipped

6th White – Dane

7th White – Columbia

1st Pink – Fond du Lac

2nd Pink – Trempealeau

3rd Pink – Outagamie

4th Pink – Grant

5th Pink – St. Croix

Small Herd Results

1st Blue – Marquette

2nd Blue – La Crosse

3rd Blue – Richland

4th Blue – Portage

5th Blue – Pierce

1st Red – Juneau

2nd Red – Clark

3rd Red – Door

4th Red – Brown

5th Red – Crawford (tie)

5th Red – Waupaca (tie)

1st White – Winnebago

2nd White – Oconto

3rd White – Walworth

4th White – Shawano

1st Pink – Racine/Kenosha

2nd Pink – Lincoln