Ten young people have been honored for their accomplishments in the National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest. The association provides cash awards totaling $3,000, with the winner receiving $600.
The contest honors outstanding achievement by junior Jersey breeders in four areas: work with Registered Jerseys™, related dairy activities, relative progress, and future goals. They were selected from 14 outstanding youth nominated by state Jersey associations, based on their cumulative record through December 31, 2007.
The winner, Aaron Michael Horst, is the son of Kevin and Linda Horst of Chambersburg, Pa. A senior at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, he is the owner of 12 Registered Jersey™ cows, eight scored Excellent, with a 2007 AJCA lactation average of 14,769 lbs. milk, 749 lbs. fat, and 541 lbs. protein. Aaron has served internships with Jersey Marketing Service as winner of the Fred Stout Experience Award, and also with ABS Global Inc. His plans are to enter the A.I. industry after graduation.
Tyler Lee Boyd of Parrottsville, Tenn., ranked second in the contest. The son of David and Deborah Boyd, he is a sophomore at Vanderbilt University majoring in biology with an emphasis in genetics. His herd consists of 26 milking cows (three Excellent, 22 Very Good) and 29 replacement heifers. In 2007 the DHIR average on 21 lactations was 14,864 lbs. milk, 667 lbs. fat, and 526 lbs. protein.
Jessica Stiles, Boonsboro, Md., ranked third. She is the daughter of Janet Stiles and the late Tracy Stiles. Her herd consists of 17 milking cows, with average production of 19,681 lbs. milk, 938 lbs. fat, and 711 lbs. protein. Over the years she has won many different awards including high placings in the National Jersey Youth Production Contest.
Ranking fourth through tenth in the contest were:
Katherine Ann Rector of Turlock, Calif., a third-year student at California Polytechnic State University studying dairy science and ag journalism; Neal Frerichs, La Grange, Texas, a student at Texas A&M University working on a Bachelor’s degree in dairy science; Ashley Messing, Bad Axe, Mich., a senior at Michigan State University; Christine Lee Wagner, Moscow, Pa., a May 2008 graduate of Delaware Valley College who has returned to work on the family dairy operation, Tripp Lee Farm; Sara LaFever, Sparta, Tenn., the 2005 National Jersey Queen who graduated from Tennessee Tech University in the spring of 2008 and has returned to management responsibilities at her family’s LaLu Farm; the late Bradley Frerichs, La Grange, Texas, a successful participant in dairy cattle judging contests and leader in his local 4-H club; and Logan J. Horst, Chambersburg, Pa., sophomore at the Pennsylvania State University majoring in agribusiness management.