California State Fair Results

During the CA State Fair, CJHA members did well in competitions against 4-H and FFA youth representing all breeds.

Showmanship top three plaings:

Junior 4-H
1st- Elisabeth Regusci
2nd- Cort Rowley
3rd- Gianini Barcelos

Senior 4-H
1st- Justin Bopp
3rd- Natalie Sanders

FFA
1st- Emile Strand
2nd- Kasisi Barcelos
3rd- Rocco Cunningham

In the Champion Challenge Competition
Supreme Champion Dairy Exhibitor (Champion Dairy Cattle exhibitor): Mandy Brazil
Reserve Champion Dairy Cattle Exhibitor: Justin Bopp
1st dairy section: Elise Regusci
2nd dairy section: Elisabeth Regusci

CA State Fair Junior Holstein Show Results:

Junior Champion:
R-John Jasper Suzanne, Rocco Cunningham

Reserve Junior Champion:
R-John Jasper Sadie-ET, Rocco Cunningham

 
Grand Champion:
Lazy-A Dundee Susann, Rocco Cunningham

Reserve Grand Champion:
Nabholz Dundee Sally, Rocco Cunningham

55 Dairy enthusiasts converged on Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, CA, on July 8 to take part in the 3 day Cow Camp activities sponsored by the California Junior Holstein Association.
On Day 1, our cow cleaning crew arrived early ready to wash & clip!

With the help of Dr. Stan Henderson, Mr. Rich Silacci & CA Holstein Secretary Kate Briggs, educational focus was on the sales and promotion end of the Holstein Industry . Upon arrival at Cow Camp, each participant was given an unmarked envelope with 'Moo Money' in it. The amounts were random. Catalogs had been prepared in advance by Angie Kennedy, Holstein USA Representative. 20 lots were to be sold at the Mock Holstein Sale held in the Dairy Arena at Cal Poly. A video screen was put to use to project pictures of lots including picks of flushes and embryo packages available for sale along with 12 live lots. Lot 20 was a genomic tested female from Den-K Holsteins, to delve into the new and hot sale enthusiasm surrounding genomics. During the sale animal preview, campers received calls from home (they all have cell phones!). Some of them were told that the tractor broke down and $1000 would be needed to fix it. Some were told that they had just sold a bull on the farm, and had an extra $500 to spend. So the amount of money they had could drastically change with one of those 'calls from home'. Staffing the sale were the Cow Campers. They served as pedigree readers, auctioneers, ringmen, sale clerks and runners. Sale clerks were instructed by Saralee Kunde from Petaluma. Participants enthusiastically learned how to run a sale, and the other Cow Campers with money in hand, purchased, formed partnerships by pooling their money, made decisions such as whether or not to purchase livestock insurance, and how much to spend. We weren't sure how active the kids would be in purchasing, but they proved very engaged in their purchases, and very contientious about the amount they spent, and which animal(s) to spend it on. We even had a sale correction that had to be made when the successful bidder did not realize that the embryo's she was purchasing was price per embryo. Realizing her error, and not having the funds forced that lot back to sale status. After the Sale BBQ, campers were then told what became of their purchases at the Mock Sale, some made money, some used that mortality insurance as milk fever and an unfortunate incident with calving caused the demise of a few of the mock animals purchased. We were very happy with the results, and plan on sponsoring similar events at future Cow Camps.

Judging Dairy Cattle happened on Day 2. Cow Campers served as the fitting crew, and chaperones and Cal Poly students led animals for the Judging Contest. 4 classes of Holsteins were judged, with 1 reasons class. At the conclusion of the judging contest, campers were given instructions in judging dairy pedigrees, reviewed the new PDCA dairy cow scorecard, and also learned how to judge linear. After the linear instruction, they were put to the test by judging a cow using the linear technique.

Novice Judging Winners: Bailey Allen 6th, Cort Rowley 3rd, Morgan Nunes tied 1st, Kylie Konyn 5th, Alexandria Lopes tied 1st, Raeanne VanTol 4th.

Junior Judging Contest Winners: Tony Lopes 1st, Caitlin Lopes 2nd, Maddie Davis 5th, Brandon Almecia 3rd, Colleen Allen 4th.

Senior Judging Contest Winners: Brook Parsons 1st, Regina Pozzi 3rd, Anton Fernandes 2nd, Katie Migliazzo 4th, Catie Kunde 5th

High Reasons Score (any age): Tony Lopes 2nd, Brooke Parsons 1st, Regina Pozzi 3rd, Emilie Strand 4th, Anton Fernandes 5th.

After a long day of learning, judging, and reasoning, they loaded up on a bus to head to the beach. Avila Beach was the site of a fabulous Tri-Tip BBQ prepared by that famous Cow Camp Chef Sean Allen and a roaring Bon-fire, and smores!

Day 3 started with an early breakfast, a heated ping pong match, followed by Dairy Jeopardy. Dairy Jeopardy is like the Jeopardy Contest seen on T.V., but the questions are dairy and Holstein related. After some heated rounds, Jeopardy awards were given out to: Novice Winner - Morgan Nunes, Junior Winner-Rylin Lindahl, and Senior Winner - Caitlin Lopes. The Linear Award winner from the day before was also announced and the winner was....... Tony Lopes. The Cow Campers then made the trek to Mustang Lanes for some competition of a different kind, bowling & billiards! The California Junior Holstein Association would like to thank Dr. Stan Henderson, Rich Silacci, Dr. Leann Berning and Dr. Bruce Golden for making Cow Camp possible. Cal Poly is a great school, with some great cows, and numerous people that care about the future of the dairy industry!

California took first place in the Junior Dairy Bowl competition, beating the team from Minnesota in the final round. Seventeen teams competed in this year's Junior Dairy Bowl competition.

Pictured left to right are: coach Megan Pierce, Caitlin Lopes (14), Los Banos, Colleen Allen (14), Los Banos, Elise Regusci (12), Modesto and Elisabeth Regusci (12), Modesto, and coach Kirsten Areias.

As a note- this is the fourth year in a row a California team made it to the final round in the Dairy Bowl competition, and garnered their second National Championship in the same time frame.

In the Dairy Jeopardy competition Tony Lopes (14) from Gustine, took second place in the intermediate division. Based on the popular television game show, Dairy Jeopardy focuses on a vast array of dairy knowledge. There were 87 contestants in three age divisions in this year's dairy jeopardy competition.

Also competing in this year's Dairy Jeopardy competition were: Justin Bopp (16), Modesto, Michael Bopp (13), Modesto, Garrett Cotta (11), Los Banos, Wyatt Cotta (12), Los Banos, Caitlin Allen (age 16), Los Banos, Katherine Nissen (20), Escalon. Megan Pierce and Kirsten Areias coached the Dairy Jeopardy contestants, as well.

New this year was a Dairy Knowledge Exam and awards were given to the top three in each age division. In the junior division, Tony Lopes took first place honors. Elisabeth Regusci earned second. Katherine Nissen took second in the senior division.

Amanda Moretti (16), Petaluma, was honored as a National Young Distinguished Junior Member (YDJM) Finalist. The YDJM award recognizes outstanding Junior Holstein members ages 9 to 16. To enter the YDJM contest, youth submit an entry book that summarizes their Holstein and agricultural activities, as well as involvement in their schools and communities. They must write essays and answer industry-related personal view questions.

Competing in the Public Speaking contest were Tony Lopes, Amanda Moretti, and Katherine Nissen.

In the Folding Display competition, participants create a free-standing display on a dairy industry topic of their choice. This year's participants included: Christian Cunningham (12) Petaluma, Elise Regusci, and Elisabeth Regusci.

In the Digital Scrapbook Competition, the CA juniors garnered second place honors. The state scrapbook contest gives each state the opportunity to showcase and promote their Junior Holstein activities they do throughout the year. There were seven entries in this year's competition.