Twelve dairy youth received James W. Crowley Leadership Awards at the recent Wisconsin State Fair. These youth were rewarded for their outstanding dairy project work. Each award winner received a plaque provided by the James W. Crowley Dairy Management and Extension Fund.

The four top youth were awarded $250 scholarships for continuing their dairy education. Tony Brey of Door County, Emily Hurtgen of Walworth County, Lea McCullough of Green County and Laurie Volkman of Outagamie County received these scholarships.

Each of the Crowley Award winners is also awarded a partial scholarship to attend the National 4-H Dairy Conference to be held Sept. 29 to Oct. 2 in Madison. The conference offers participants a chance to experience hands-on workshops, tour dairy companies, and meet other dairy enthusiasts from throughout the United States and Canada. The Wuethrich Foundation of Greenwood, Wis. and Farm Credit Services of Wisconsin co-sponsor the scholarships for the Wisconsin delegation.

“The Crowley Award competition is a great program that allows outstanding dairy youth to meet new peers who are also active in the dairy industry. It is also a great program to promote record keeping skills and to develop leadership skills,” according to Ted Halbach, UW-Madison extension dairy youth specialist.

In addition to the $250 scholarship winners, Crowley Award recipients were: Becky Wellnitz, Rock County; Joseph Sarbacker, Dane County; Ashley Yager, Iowa County; Heather Daniels, Kenosha County; Laura Maier, Grant County; Ann Huenink, Sheboygan County; Bryce Wolfe, Buffalo County; Brenda Ranke, Racine County.

Judges for this year”s Crowley Awards were Al Schultz of Vita Plus Corporation, and Sandy Cordes. Schultz is also a member of the James W. Crowley Dairy Management and Extension Fund Committee.

The award program is in honor and memory of James W. Crowley, longtime extension dairy specialist at the UW-Madison and strong supporter of dairy youth project work.