Nineteen participants of 4-H, an educational youth program of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, and their project animals traveled to Springfield, Massachusetts in September to represent Maine at the Eastern States Exposition. They competed against more than 150 youth from around New England in a variety of dairy competitions.

In the first contest, the Dairy Knowledge Exam, Desiree Wright of Limington took second place in the senior division, while Alivia Stanley of Buxton took fourth in the junior division.

The Maine Quiz Bowl Team — Stanley, Sadee Mehuren of Searsmont, and Megan Caruso and Kelton Tanguay of Gorham — took third place. Stanley placed fifth in the individual competition.

The Maine Clipping Team — Allison Merriman of Windham, Kaicey Conant of Canton and Nicole Schofield of Troy — took top honors.

Maine fielded two Dairy Judging Teams. Team A — Merriman, Wright, Stanley and Mackensie Schofield of Troy — placed third with second places in the Ayrshire, Holstein and Jersey breeds, as well as second place in oral reasons. Team B — Sadee Mehuren, Elida Mehuren of Searsmont, Ruth Huettner of Monson, and Cali Ann Leach of Arundel — placed fourth with second-place finishes in both the Brown Swiss and Milking Shorthorn breeds. Sadee Mehuren was the high individual overall in the event, with Merriman and Wright finishing third and fifth, respectively.

In the Grilled Cheese Sandwich Competition, Stanley, Conant and Jaymee Rankin of Windham finished second in the Non-Traditional Category.

Results of the Cattle Quality Classes were as follows: In the Ayrshire breed, class winners included Mackensie Schofield's fall calf, Hardy Farm Pride Kaylee; Lyman native Elizabeth Clock's spring yearling heifer, Ridgeview Homerun Jelly; and Caruso's winter yearling heifer, Vieux Village Distinction Mia. Mackensie Schofield's heifer was Junior Champion and Reserve Grand Champion of the breed.

In the Brown Swiss, New Sharon native Kristen Davis' junior two-year-old cow, Roseledge-SS Brook Zenith, received first place and was named Senior and Grand Champion of the breed.

In the Holsteins, class winners were Rankin's junior calf, Baker-Brook Shottle Rascal and Conant's winter yearling heifer, Conant-Acres Mctch Lisha-ET. Conant's heifer was named Junior Champion with the Reserve Junior Champion going to Rankin's calf.

In the Jerseys, class winners included Knox native Shaynen Schofield's summer yearling, Concept Impression Eloise; Stanley's spring yearling, Venerable Carmen; and Nicole Schofield's winter yearling, Happy Acres Verbatim Quest. Shaynen Schofield's heifer also was Junior Champion.

In the Milking Shorthorns, Lyman native Jacklyn Bearse's winter yearling, East Coast Faith was first.

In the Fitting and Showmanship Competition, three Maine youth placed first in their age groups. They included Rankin, Stanley and Davis. Davis was named Senior Champion Showsperson from among 81 competitors in her age group.

Other team members include Hayley Grant of Buxton and Patrick Hussey of Limington.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension:
As a trusted resource for 100 years, University of Maine Cooperative Extension has supported UMaine's land and sea grant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county. UMaine Extension helps support, sustain and grow the food-based economy. It is the only entity in our state that touches every aspect of the Maine Food System, where policy, research, production, processing, commerce, nutrition, and food security and safety are integral and interrelated. UMaine Extension also conducts the most successful out-of-school youth educational program in Maine through 4-H.