The Wisconsin Holstein Association will hold its annual Junior Holstein Convention in collaboration with the Waupaca-Waushara Junior Holstein Association at the Red Lion Hotel in Appleton, December 28-30, 2021. The Wisconsin Holstein Association (WHA) is pleased to announce the 12 & Under Recognition and Young Distinguished Junior Member (YDJM) award recipients who will be recognized on the Wednesday evening of convention, December 29, 2021.
12 & Under Recognition Winners
Royce Booth is the 10-year-old son of Chris and Courtney Booth of Plymouth. Royce, along with his parents and siblings Campbell, Ava and Cole, own and operate Booth-Haven Holsteins. Royce loves making friends, teaching others about his dairy heifers, and competing in showmanship. This year, Royce had two homebred special heifers, Booth-Haven Lady Mary K-Red and Booth-Haven Fancy Lady-Red, and earned District 10 Junior Champion and Sheboygan County Fair Reserve Junior Champion and Reserve Supreme Champion Showman. A guy who loves sports too, you can find him passing his football and shooting hoops in the barn.
Justin Brandel is the 11-year-old son of Matthew & Tracy Brandel. Justin has two younger sisters, Ashley and Katie, along with an older brother, Colton. His family partners in Straussdale Holsteins LLC, where they milk 175 Registered Holsteins located in Lake Mills. Justin helps with various farm chores including working with show calves. He is in the sixth grade at Lake Mills Middle School and enjoys participating in 4-H, Junior Holstein events, and volunteering at various dairy promotion activities in his community as well as playing football, soccer and training his mini donkeys.
Evan Brey is the 10-year-old son of Tony and Moriah Brey of Sturgeon Bay. He has a four-year-old sister, Alexa. The family resides at Brey Cycle Farm LLC, a 700-cow Registered Holstein farm owned by Evan’s mom and dad and aunt and uncle. Evan is a fourth grader at Southern Door Elementary School. Outside of working with his animals, reading Holstein bull proofs, and learning Holstein facts, Evan enjoys playing and watching all sports.
Kayla Buttles is the 11-year-old daughter of Andy and Lynn Buttles. She attends Lancaster Middle School where she is in the sixth grade. Kayla enjoys playing the cello, attending events with the Merry Mixers 4-H club, playing tennis, and preparing and showing her cattle. She and her sister Christina live on Stone-Front Farm, where she loves to spend time with her family and learn about all aspects of the farm.
Makenna Gilbertson is the 11-year-old daughter of Erik and Brenda Gilbertson, Hollandale. Makenna has three younger sisters: Elise, Naydeen and Janelle and one brother, Braxton. On the farm at Gildale Holsteins, Makenna helps with calf chores, record keeping and loves pedigrees. She is beginning to learn more about sires and making mating decisions. Makenna is in the Blue Ribbon 4-H Club and Iowa County Junior Holstein Association. She participates in dairy bowl, dairy judging and has exhibited at national, state, district and county levels. Makenna is in the fifth grade at Pecatonica Elementary and enjoys band, dance, singing, theatre, softball and volleyball.
Madison Harbaugh, 10, is the daughter of Lynn and Sara Harbaugh of Marion and has two brothers, Jacob and Logan. She is a fifth grader at St. Martin Lutheran School in Clintonville. She is actively involved with Bella-View Holsteins, a registered heifer operation. She works with about 10 show heifers daily, and with her family, exhibits at county, district, state and national shows. Madison is a member of Shawano County Junior Holstein and participates in dairy bowl, judging and speaking contests. She is a member of the County Line 4-H Club, exhibiting in the dairy, swine and cake decorating projects. Madison takes piano lessons and plays volleyball, basketball, softball and cheer.
Together with her parents, Steve and Dori, and her younger brother, Winston, Vivian Lichty and her family milk Registered Holsteins and Jerseys outside of Beaver Dam. In addition to showing at district, state, and national shows, Vivian enjoys dairy bowl, dairy judging, the Holstein public speaking contest, and reading a good book. She’s treasurer for the Hyland Prairie 4-H Club where she excels in arts and crafts, cake decorating, and sewing. Vivian plays volleyball and basketball at St. Stephen’s Lutheran School in Beaver Dam, where she’s in sixth grade and enjoys playing in the band with her flute.
Miles Rickert is the 12-year-old son of Andrew and Shannon Rickert, Van Dyne. Miles has one sister and two brothers. He is a sixth grader at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in North Fond du Lac and is actively involved in his family’s 1,020 cow Registered Holstein farm. He loves to help drive skid steers and payloader to assist with chores. Miles is an active member of the Fond du Lac Junior Holstein Association, enjoys dairy bowl and showing his fall calf. He is a Hands of Friendship 4-H member. He hopes to run the farm with the latest technology.
Cameron Ryan is the 12-year-old son of Chad and Amy Ryan of Fond du Lac and has one brother, Dylan. Cameron is very involved in his grandparents’ dairy farm, Ryan-Vu Holsteins. There, he assists with feeding heifers, caring for his show heifers, milking cows and other aspects of the day-to-day chores. He enjoys going to and showing his cattle at the local, district, state and national levels. He also likes competing in dairy bowl, dairy jeopardy and dairy judging contests. He is a seventh grade honor roll student at the Lomira Middle School where he plays football, basketball and baseball.
Braelyn Sarbacker is the 10-year-old daughter of Joe and Sarah Sarbacker of Verona. Braelyn grew up on Fischerdale Holsteins with her parents and sisters, Payton and Reagan. Braelyn enjoys showing Holsteins and spending time with her family at the shows. She has always had a love for animals and is determined to help with whatever needs to get done. She is a member of the Paoli 4-H Fireballs 4-H Club and the Dane County Junior Holstein Association. Braelyn also enjoys playing basketball, soccer, swimming and performing in musicals.
Madison Sarbacker is the fifth grade daughter of Nick and Jessica Sarbacker and sister to Melanie. She helps her family operate Heritage Holsteins and Agnew Farms near Whitewater, where they grow corn and soybeans in addition to developing a small herd of Registered Holsteins. Madison enjoys reading, 4-H activities, and showing calves at her local shows. Her favorite job on the farm is feeding newborn calves and watching them grow.
Payton Sarbacker is the 12-year-old daughter of Joe and Sarah Sarbacker of Verona. Payton grew up on Fischerdale Holsteins with her parents and sisters, Braelyn and Reagan. Payton enjoys showing Holsteins and spending time with her family at the district and state show, county fair, and at World Dairy Expo. She also enjoys dairy judging and participating at the Junior Holstein Convention. She is a member of the Paoli 4-H Fireballs 4-H Club and the Dane County Junior Holstein Association. Payton also enjoys playing soccer, basketball, and performing in musicals.
Young Distinguished Junior Member Winners
Katie Brandel is the 12-year-old daughter of Matthew & Tracy Brandel. Katie has a younger sister, Ashley, and two brothers, Colton and Justin. Her family partners in Straussdale Holsteins LLC, where they milk 175 Registered Holsteins located in Lake Mills. Katie enjoys working with her show cattle and helping out on the family farm. Katie is in the seventh grade at Lake Mills Middle School and enjoys participating in 4-H, Junior Holstein events, and volunteering at various dairy promotion activities in her community as well as playing basketball and soccer.
Alison Gartman is the 13-year-old daughter of Luke and Liz Gartman of Sheboygan. She has one sister, Brianna, and a brother, Leo. Her dad’s family runs Phil-Mar-Ru farms. Most of Alison’s Holstein show animals are homebred on the farm. She has shown at county, district and state levels in her Holstein career and is hoping to show at World Dairy Expo next year. She also participates in dairy judging and dairy bowl. Besides working with her show animals, Alison enjoys playing volleyball and working on her beef show animals.
Cathryn Gunst is the 15-year-old daughter of Willis and Carla Gunst, Pine River. On the farm, Cathryn helps take care of her heifers. She is involved in 4-H, where she has served as reporter and participates in a variety of community service events. As a member of the Waupaca-Waushara Junior Holstein Association, she is on the dairy bowl team, does dairy jeopardy and participates in the other contests as well. She’s been a big part of planning this year’s convention. In addition, she shows her cattle at the local, state and national levels. She plays volleyball, basketball, runs track and enjoys singing and playing piano.
Christopher Gunst is the 15-year-old son of Willis and Carla Gunst, Pine River. On the farm, Christopher helps with taking care of his heifers and helps make hay. He is involved in 4-H, participating in a variety of community service events. As a member of the Waupaca-Waushara Junior Holstein Association, he is on the dairy bowl team, enjoys dairy jeopardy and participates in the speaking contest and other events. He has been busy helping plan this year’s convention. In addition, he shows his cattle at the local county fair, district show and state show. He loves to play soccer, basketball, baseball, football and track.
Elizabeth Gunst is the 16-year-old daughter of Dennis and Nikki Gunst. She is the sixth generation to reside at her family’s farm, Ladinodale Holsteins, outside of Hartford. She shares a passion for farming, helping in all aspects of cropping 300 acres of farmland and custom raising heifers. She has one sibling, Matthew. Elizabeth is a junior at Lakeside Lutheran High School in Lake Mills. She is the president of the Lakeside Lutheran FFA Chapter, president of the Herman Hornets 4-H Club, and a member of Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association. Her favorite dairy activity is showing dairy cattle.
Logan Harbaugh, 14, is the son of Lynn & Sara Harbaugh of Marion. He is a freshman at Clintonville High School where he is a member of FFA and participates in basketball and track. At Bella-View Holsteins, Logan performs a variety of jobs working with 10-15 show heifers daily, and exhibits at county, district, state and national shows throughout the year. A member of Shawano County Junior Holstein, he participates in dairy bowl and dairy judging and was the high junior individual in the State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest. He is Vice-President of the County Line 4-H Club and shows dairy and swine at the Shawano County Fair.
Ellie Larson is the 15‐year‐old daughter of Jamie and Amy Larson, and part of the sixth generation of Larsons farming in Rock County. She is in tenth grade at Evansville High School, where she is currently serving as the FFA chapter co‐vice president. Ellie is also an active member of the Magnolia 4‐H Club, Evansville Equestrian Team, Rock County Junior Holstein Breeders, and Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association, through which she has participated in a long list of projects and activities, served in leadership roles, and shown at the county, district, and state level, as well as at World Dairy Expo.
Laney Neuser is the 12-year-old daughter of Jim and Sarah Neuser of Cato. Laney shows dairy cattle at county, district, and state levels. She competes in dairy bowl and dairy jeopardy for Manitowoc County Junior Holstein Association. Laney is a seventh grader at St. John’s Lutheran School in Maribel. She is an active member of the Junior Holstein Association and the Maribel Mighty Kids 4-H club. Laney enjoys owning, showing and training her Holsteins and Jerseys. In addition, she loves helping the younger generation get involved in the dairy industry.
Ella Raatz, of the Clark County Junior Holstein Association, is the daughter of Al and Teri Raatz, Colby. She is a ninth grader at Colby High School. Although she does not live on a farm, she has found a way to become very active in 4-H and the Junior Holstein Association by partnering with local dairy farmers and showing Registered Holsteins during the summer. Her participation in the Junior Holstein Association includes competing on the Clark County junior quiz bowl team, participating in fitting and showing clinics and the state dairy judging and showmanship contests.
Dylan Ryan is the 13-year-old son of Chad and Amy Ryan of Fond du Lac and has one brother, Cameron. Dylan is very active on his grandparents’ dairy farm, Ryan-Vu Holsteins. There, he assists with mixing feed and feeding cows, caring for his show heifers, cleaning and bedding heifer barns and many aspects of the fieldwork. He enjoys showing his cattle at the local, district, state and national levels. Dylan likes competing in dairy bowl, dairy jeopardy and dairy judging. He is on the honor roll as an eighth grader at Lomira Middle School, where he plays football, basketball and baseball and wrestles.
Paige Sweatt is the 16-year-old daughter of Paul and Jenny Sweatt. She is a junior at Lodi High School and resides on the family’s six acre home farm in Dane. Paige is a member of the Junior Holstein Association, the Lodi Challengers 4-H Club, and Lodi FFA, where she holds officer positions and is actively involved. Paige enjoys showing at the local, county, state and national levels.
Madison Wiese is the 14-year-old daughter of Dan and Angela Wiese and big sister to Alivia and Elsie Wiese. She is a freshman at Wrightstown High School. Madison has been a member of the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association for four years. Along with Junior Holsteins, Madison plays softball, is her 4-H club’s president, and is an active FFA member. Dairy cattle have been and will always be a very important part of her life, and she is very excited to continue her journey with them!
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