Congratulations to Kristin Hogan, Tillamook, Ore., who has been crowned the 54th National Jersey Queen. The first alternate National Jersey Queen for 2008 was Julie Ann Ozburn, from Nolensville, Tenn. She is the daughter of Jim and JoAnn Ozburn and a third-generation Jersey dairy farmer. Selected as second alternate Queen was Katie Wirkus, the daughter of Allen and Barb Wirkus of Athens, Wis.
Hogan will represent Jersey breeders for the next year with her participation in events such as the Annual Meeting of the American Jersey Cattle Association, World Dairy Expo and The 57th All American Jersey Show & Sale.
The National Jersey Queen contest lasted two days with 10 young women from across the country competing for the coveted crown. Participants had to pass a general dairy knowledge test, were interviewed by a panel of judges, and prepared a two-minute video presentation that demonstrated their ability to represent the Jersey breed through public speaking. The National Jersey Queen Development Fund provides scholarships of $500, $300 and $200 to the Queen and two alternates.
Kristin is the daughter of Dave and Rita Hogan, producers to the famous Tillamook County Creamery Association. She attends Oregon State University, where she is president of the Dairy Club and Executive Vice President of the Agricultural Executive Council. As a member of the OSU dairy judging team, she was high individual at the North American International Livestock Exposition collegiate dairy judging contest in 2007, and earned All-American honors at the 2008 national intercollegiate contest in Madison, Wisconsin. Kristin received the American FFA Degree in 2007, and served as president at both the chapter and district levels. She was also the 2005 Oregon FFA Dairy Entrepreneurship Dairy Proficiency Award winner with her herd of 26 Registered Jerseys™.