Steuben
4-H member selected for 11th NYS Junior Dairy Leader
Class
Isaac Oman has been selected as a member
of the 11th New York State Junior Diary Leader Class
for 2009-2010. The first program of the year will be
the trip to Madison, Wisconsin for dairy/agribusiness
tours and representing New York State at the national
4-H Dairy Conference Sept. 24-Oct 1, 2009.
Above, Kate Brown, Steuben County Dairy Princess,
presenting to Paige Demun, Dairy Dreamers 4-H Club,
the 4-H Supreme Dairy Champion Award
2009
4-H Meat Animal Show and Sale
PAVILION - Sixteen 4-H youth, from six
counties and thirty one head of top quality livestock
from across New York State came to Empire Livestock
in Pavilion New York, September 12, to take part in
the sixtieth anniversary of the annual New York 4-H
Meat Animal Show and Sale.
One highlight of the show was the sale of Adam Wilkins’
steer with profits going to Livingston County Habitat
for Humanity. This is Adam's third year contributing
to Livingston County Habitat for Humanity. Adam has
been in 4-H for 11 years. Adam's steer (Eli) was donated
to him in March of 08 from the Hayton Farm in Hemlock.
Eli is a Jersey/Holstein cross. Eli was exhibited at
the Hemlock Fair this year in July. Adam has sold two
pigs the last two years. With this years sale he has
raised over $2500 dollars for Habitat. Adam understands
the need for housing in Livingston County. Through 4-H
Adam has been able to combine his knowledge of animals
and community service.
The 60th Annual Show began at 10:00 a.m. with Showmanship.
Junior and Master Meat Goat Showman was Natalie Mrzywka
from Orleans County. Junior Beef Showmanship was won
by Gertie Fisher from Wayne County. Senior and Master
Beef Showman was Jacob Fisher from Wayne County. Master
Swine Showman was Steven Quanz from Steuben County.
Junior and Master Sheep Showman was Abby Allison from
Ontario County. Senior Showman was Isaac Oman from Steuben
County. Junior Swine Showman was Brendan Knoll from
Erie County. The market shows began immediately following
showmanship. The Grand Champion Beef was a steer exhibited
by John Fisher from Wayne County. Reserve Grand Champion
Beef was a steer exhibited by Jacob Fisher from Wayne
County. The Grand Champion Lamb was exhibited by Riley
Lear from Orleans County. The Reserve Grand Champion
Lamb was exhibited by Janie Shutz from Orleans County.
The Grand Champion Market Hog was exhibited by Brendan
Knoll from Erie County and The Reserve Grand Champion
Market Hog was exhibited by Brendon Knoll from Erie
County. The Grand Champion Market Goat was exhibited
by Natalie Mrzywka from Orleans County and the Reserve
Grand Champion Market Goat was exhibited by Rebecca
Lyness from Orleans County.
Sponsors of trophies for the winners were Chris and
Penny Peterson of Wayland, and Wayne Cooperative Insurance
of Clyde. The family of George Millpaugh provided a
trophy for the exhibitor of the Grand Champion Lamb.
A wonderful lunch was provided by the kitchen staff
of Empire Livestock in Pavilion, and was sponsored by
Bruce Brown of Phoenix, Arizona.
The sale began at 1:00 p.m. with Don Yahn as auctioneer.
There were thirteen buyers with Empire Livestock Marketing,
Pavilion purchasing the Grand Champion Beef the Grand
Champion Market Hog and the Reserve Grand Champion Lamb.
The Grand Champion Market Lamb, Grand Champion Market
Goat, and Reserve Grand Champion Market Hog were purchased
by Tor-Li Farms from Churchville, NY. The buyer of the
Reserve Grand Champion Market Goat and the Reserve Grand
Champion Beef was David Knoll of Hamburg. Other buyers
included Air-Deb Corporation, Alden; Elizabeth Allison,
Hemlock; Edwin D. Carney, Dansville; Davis Trailer,
York; Kate and Jason Dininny, Canisteo; Erie Niagara
Insurance, Williamsville; North Forty Farm, Lima; Louis
Rudgers, Pavilion; Shur-Gain, Strykersville; and Fred
VanRoon, Rochester.
For more information about the New York
4-H Meat Animal Show and Sale contact your local Cornell
Cooperative Extension 4-H Office or: 607-664-2561.
Left: Isaac Oman, Senior Sheep Showman. Right: L-R
Don Yahn and Janie Shutz, Reserve Grand Champion Market
Lamb.
Photo - Adam Wilkins- Habitat
for Humanity Steer, sold to Hayton Farm
2009 4-H Dairy
Judging Tour
Steuben County 4-H members participated
in the Annual Steuben County Dairy Judging Tour held
at Lismore Dairy, Andy Merry and Family, Arkport. The
official judge for the contest was Bill Neel. Meadow
Brook Dairy donated milk and Crowley Foods donated yogurt.
Dairy judging helps youth understand what to look for
when choosing a show animal. It also helps them understand
why the judge places their animal the way he does at
county fair or any other dairy show. Observation, confidence
and communication are some of the many skills which
youth will develop from judging.
County Dairy Judging results in the novice division
were 1st place Shelby Wade, Independent member and 2nd
place Lauren McRae, Carder Koalas. In the junior division,
1st place went to Paige Demun, Dairy Dreamers 4-H Club;
2nd place to Ian Stewart, Country Bunch 4-H Club; 3rd
place Ann Johnson, Dairy Dreamers 4-H Club; 4th place
Grace Franklin, Dairy Characters 4-H Club; 5th place
Kassidy Kramer, Dairy Characters 4-H Club; and 6th place
Deven Wade, Independent member. In the senior division,
1st place Steven Quanz, Southern Tier Livestock; 2nd
place Taylor Merry, Independent member; 3rd place Taylor
Wade, Independent member; and 4th place Josh Kramer,
Dairy Characters. In the little britches contest participants
were Jade Atherton, Kaleb Dininny, Nathan Randall, Derak
Wade, Kayla Atherton and Rory McRae. The winner in the
Mother/Daughter category was Kim and Kassidy Kramer;
Mother/Son was Paula and Steven Quanz; Father/Daughter
was Keith and Paige Demun; and Father/Son was Lyle and
Derek Wade. The High Team was the Wade Family, Independent
members. The High First year member was Jade Atherton.
Cow college is dairy judging events held in the barn
at various farms around the county. Cow college awards
were given out based on a point system and they were
donated by John and Teresa Lyons, Addison. In the novice
division, first place went to Morgan Pierce, M&
M 4-H Club, and second place went to Shelby Wade, Independent
member. In the junior division, first place went to
Ann Johnson, Dairy Dreamers 4-H Club; second place to
Paige Demun, Dairy Dreamers 4-H Club; and 3rd place
Ian Stewart, Country Bunch 4-H Club. In the senior division,
first place went to Taylor Wade, Independent member.
The Steuben County Hoards’ Dairyman Picture Judging
Contest Awards were also given out. High Junior (youth
8-13 years old as of January 1, 2009) out of 60 entries
went to Lauren McRae, Carder Koalas; High Senior ( youth
14-18 years old as of January 1, 2009) out of 26 entries
went to Steven Quanz, Southern Tier Livestock; and High
Team went to Dairy Characters 4-H Club consisting of
Kassidy Kramer, Grace Franklin and Jordan Kramer.
2009 Dairy Bowl
Steuben Senior Team
Steuben Junior Team
Steuben Junior Individuals: Justin Bennett,
Kassidy Kramer, and Ann Johnson
Recently, Steuben County 4-H members participated
in the Annual Finger Lakes District
4-H Dairy Cattle Quiz Bowl Contests held in Canandaigua.
The dairy quiz bowl contests provide 4-H members an
opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of the dairy
industry and related subject matter in a fun, "TV
Jeopardy" setting. The contests, coordinated by
Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development
staff, are an educational experience for both the participants
and spectators.
In the Senior Division the Steuben County team placed
second. Sr. Team members included Emily Lyons and Kyle
Warner, both from the Dairy Dynamites 4-H club; Steven
Quanz, Southern Tier Livestock Club, and Josh Kramer,
Dairy Characters 4-H Club. Individually Emily Lyons
placed 4th, Steven Quanz placed 5th and Kyle Warner
placed 7th. The Sr. team was coached by John and Traci
Lyons.
In the Junior Division the Steuben A team placed 1st
consisting of Jordan Kramer and Grace Franklin from
the Dairy Characters 4-H Club; Logan Robinson, Dairy
Dreamers 4-H Club; and Ashlynn Bennett, Howard Hillbillies
4-H Club. The Steuben B Jr. Team placed 2nd consisting
of Kassidy Kramer, Dairy Characters 4-H Club; Ian Stewart,
Country Bunch 4-H Club; Ann Johnson, Dairy Dreamers
4-H Club; and Justin Bennett, Howard Hillbillies 4-H
Club. The Jr. Teams were coached by Kim Kramer and Lisa
Robinson. Individually Jordan Kramer placed 1st ; Ann
Johnson placed 2nd; Grace Franklin placed 3rd; Kassidy
Kramer placed 4th; Logan Robinson placed 6th; Ashlynn
Bennett placed 7th; and Ian Stewart placed 9th.
Jordan Kramer, Ann Johnson, Grace Franklin and Kassidy
Kramer were selected to represent the Finger Lakes District
Jr. Team and was coached by Kim Kramer and Emily Lyons
was selected to represent the Finger Lakes District
Sr. Team at the State Contest on April 25th at Cornell
University, Ithaca. The Finger Lakes District Jr. Team
placed 5th and the Finger Lakes Sr. Team placed 2nd.
State
Offers Free Testing to Help Eradicate Scrapie
New Eradication Program Uses Genetic Testing
on Rams
New York State Agriculture Commissioner
Patrick Hooker today offered free genetic testing to
any New York sheep owner in order to further advance
the State’s ongoing efforts to eradicate the ovine
disease, scrapie. The free testing is made available
through the New York Ram Project, a plan aimed at enhancing
flock resistance to scrapie in New York by conducting
genetic testing on rams.
“The presence of scrapie in the
United States has challenged our producers for years,
costing them millions of dollars and forcing them to
lose out on foreign markets,” the Commissioner
said. “By providing our producers with important
genetic information on their rams, producers will be
able to knowingly breed more resistance to scrapie in
their flock, which will lead to healthier animals, more
profitable producers and move us a step closer to eradicating
this fatal and devastating disease.”
Research has shown that certain genes
in the DNA of sheep play a role in the development of
scrapie. A simple DNA test from a blood sample can reveal
the resistance or susceptibility of sheep to scrapie.
Because of the larger number of progeny, rams have a
greater impact for the development of scrapie resistance
and are therefore the focus of New York Ram Project.
There is no genetic test available for goats at this
time.
New York sheep producers who wish to have
their rams tested should contact their local accredited
veterinarian to schedule an appointment before December
31, 2008. The Department will reimburse veterinarians
$15 to cover the cost of sampling and testing.
Funding for this program is provided by
a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture’s
Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services
(USDA-APHIS-VS). Funding is limited and offered on a
first come, first served basis. Testing is limited to
ten rams per flock. Testing must be completed by December
31, 2008.
In New York, the Department has worked
cooperatively with USDA APHIS to eradicate scrapie by
issuing official identification tags to producers to
use when selling animals from their flocks and communicating
with producers and veterinarians on new information
regarding scrapie and associated eradication efforts.
There are two other programs available
to sheep owners that address the ongoing concern for
scrapie. The Scrapie Ovine Slaughter Surveillance program
surveys cull animals at slaughter to identify infected
flocks and helps fund the clean-up of infected flocks.
The Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program monitors
flocks over a period of time to certify flocks scrapie-free,
enhancing the marketability of animals.
Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease
that affects the central nervous system of sheep and
goats. It has been recognized in the world for more
than 250 years and in the United States since 1947.
It is among a number of diseases classified as transmissible
spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) and caused by the
ingestion of prions, infectious proteins.
The name “scrapie” was coined
from sheep trying to relieve the intense itching it
causes, which results in sheep “scraping”
off their wool. Sheep and goats can both be infected
with scrapie at a very young age, but may not show symptoms
of disease until two to six years of age. Symptoms may
include weight loss, excessive itching, loss of coordination,
and abnormal behavior.
In 2003, APHIS determined the prevalence
of scrapie in mature U.S. cull sheep to be 0.2 percent
or one positive out of 500 cull sheep. Australia and
New Zealand are the only two countries in the world
to be recognized as scrapie-free.
New York State has 2,000 sheep farms with
an inventory of approximately 74,000 sheep and lambs
and 4,000 breeding rams, with a combined value of $10.8
million. Cash receipts from the sale of sheep and lambs
in New York in 2006 totaled $3.6 million.
Ten
Commandments for Show Ring Parents
I. Thou shall know the rules.
There are written and unwritten rules regarding the
showing of animals. Topping the list of written rules
are: Be courteous at all times and never lose your temper.
II. Thou shall allow your children to do their
project themselves. Obviously, with a younger
child, a parent is going to do much of the work. However,
there is a gradient when the youngster starts doing
more and taking increased responsibility.
III. Thou shall be supportive and involved.
To the other extreme, some parents believe there should
be no parental involvement or help. A 4-H project can
bring the entire family together with a common goal.
Parents often find they have as much to learn as their
children. At home, parents can help with training, feeding,
and care as the youngster learns and grows. At the show,
parents make great bucket-carriers, runners for something
forgotten, and animal holders. Most importantly, they
can give a word of encouragement and a smile when it
is most needed.
IV. Thou shall allow your child to practice
and participate. Experience is the best teacher.
Nothing builds more confidence or takes the pace of
the feel of the leather strap in a child’s hand.
Let your child participate in showmanship workshops
before the show. These activities give your child experience
and knowledge.
V. Thou shall provide proper equipment.
Though it is not fancy for expensive equipment that
determines a winner, appropriate equipment is a necessary
part of showing. Many exhibitors build their own show
boxes and make their own rope halters. Remember, show
equipment makes great presents.
VI. Thou shall keep your attitude in check on
show day. Your attitude on show day can tamper
how your youngster performs. It is as important for
a parent to be a good sport as it is for a child. The
old adage, “Win without bragging and lose without
complaining,” holds especially true for parents.
VII. Thou shall not be a show ring sideline
director. Parents standing on the sidelines
giving instructions to their child are distracting to
other exhibitors and the judge. Your child is better
off doing it on their own and making his or her own
mistakes. That is how they learn.
VIII. Thou shall not complain about the judge.
Complaining about the judge rarely accomplishes anything.
Remember, there is another show and different judges
down the road. Regardless of the judge, you will win
a few and lose a few.
IX. Thou shall not disparage the competition.
There always seems to be a good deal of griping about
how somebody got the job done. The only solution is
to make sure you and your children are getting the job
done in the right way. If others are cheating, or not
behaving in s suitable manner, they will cause their
own demise.
X. Thou shall honor your child. When
a parent ridicules their child for a bad performance
as they leave the show ring, they are forgetting that
the award - the trophy, the plaque, the blue ribbon
is not as important as the things the child learns and
the friends they make while pursuing that goal. As parents,
let us remember that the show ring is not just for prize
animals; it is the show place for the finest young people
in America. Let us be proud.
Author: Barbara Labarbara
Feb. 1995
Angus Journal
2007 Dairy & Livestock
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