2022 UGA Show Recap!

Friday

Friday, February 11th, was a busy day. 181 heifers weighed in with 164 young people at the halter. The turnout this year was tremendous and the quality of kids and heifers did not disappoint.

Just over 60 youth made their way to the arena for a practice Dairy Judging Contest. Christian Page was high individual followed by Olivia Vanderwalt, Maggie Harper, Abby Joyner and Erin Rivers, respectively. Many thanks to Alyssa Rauton, a busy, first year veterinary school student and dairy enthusiast for pulling this opportunity together.

Following the judging contest, the barn was welcomed to the Exhibitor’s Dinner. Sponsored in part by the Georgia Dairy Youth Foundation and highlighting brisket from the UGA Meat’s Lab, this dinner is a time for youth, parents, teachers, and agents to fellowship.

After the dinner, the UGA Dairy Science Club hosted an education program in which Mr. Kirk Butcher discussed and performed the tips and tricks to correctly fitting a heifer. A tremendous thank you goes out to Mr. Butcher for again leading this experience.

Saturday

Bright and early the next morning, Saturday February 12th, Showmanship began in the two rings. Ring one hosted grades 4th – 8th, while ring two held grades 9th-12th. Judges were recent Viriginia Tech graduates, Elizabeth Menard and Sarah Thomas (bios at the end).

Elizabeth Mernard (pictured with Junior Showmanship Champion and Grand Heavyweight Champion) hails from Vermont and began her show career at five years old. Elizabeth just concluded a successful collegiate judging team career at Virginia Tech where in 2021, she was high individual at the Big E dairy cattle judging contest in 2021, on the winning team at the All American Dairy Show, and on the second place team at the National Dairy Cattle Judging Contest in Madison, WI while being third high individual.

Sarah Thomas (pictured with Senior Showmanship Champion and Lightweight Grand Champion) is a North Carolina Native that also began her show career at five years old. She graduated from Virginia Tech in 2021 where she was on the 2018 Virginia Tech judging team. As part of this team, Sarah was high individual as well as on the top placing team for the All American Dairy Show and on the second place team at the National Dairy Cattle Judging Contest in Madison, WI. What a tremendous set of judges the youth had before them and likewise what a talented group of show men and women that the judges set out to place.

The UGA Dairy Science Club would like to thank all of our financial supporters that contributed to another great year and made this possible for all of these young people.

• Platinum sponsors of the show ($500) were Southern Swiss Dairy, LLC, Dairy Alliance, Athens Seed Co. and Georgia Dairy Youth Foundation.

• Gold sponsors ($250) this year included Hall County Soil and Water Conservation, Oglethorpe Feed and Hardware Supply, White County Farmers Exchange, Doug Smith Contracting, Parker Systems, and Smith Ironworks.

THANK YOU as this show would not be possible for all of these young people without you! Please visit the UGA Dairy Science Club Facebook page for a link to view and download show photos.