JCI Wisconsin Jaycees
2011 Outstanding Young Farmer
 

JCI Wisconsin Jaycees 58th Outstanding Young Farmer (OYF) Awards Weekend was hosted by the Prairie du Chein Jaycees Jan. 28-29, 2011, in Eau Claire at the Plaza Hotel & Suites.

Results:
Winners: Brian & Renee Schaal, Burlington (Racine County), milk 225 cows and run 425 acres in a Limited Liability Partnership with family. They have two children, Michael, 6, and Ashley, 2. Sponsored by Watertown Area OYF, Racine County Dairy Promotion and Racine County Farm Bureau.
PH: 262-534-5255 or 262-492-9909 (cell). schaaldairy@tds.net

1st Runners-up: Ryan & Sarah Radecki, Pulaski (Shawano County), milk 180 cows and operate 530 acres. Radeckis have two children, Tucker, 12, and Lauren, 9. Sponsored by Shawano County OYF. PH: 920-833-9211 or 920-228-0039 (cell). radecki@granitewave.com

2nd Runners-up: Ben & Nicki Peterson, Grantsburg (Burnett County), operate Four Cubs Farm with his parents. They milk 525 cows and run 1,500 acres. They have a son, Jake, 3 months old. They also took second place in the Speak Up for Agriculture. Sponsored by Lookout Ridge Consulting, Burnett Dairy Cooperative and AgStar Financial Services.
PH: 715-463-5799,  715-491-8211 (cell). bfpeterson@hotmail.com

3rd Runners-up: Tim & Shana Johnson, Baraboo (Sauk County), raise 700 Holstein steers and grow nearly 2,000 acres of corn, soybeans, alfalfa and wheat. Sponsored by the Reedsburg Jaycees. PH: 608-356-0503, 608-963-6209 (cell). cedarviewfarm@excite.com

Tie for 4th Runners-up: Bruce & Jolene Gumz, Dorchester (Marathon County), operate Tri-G Farms where they milk 70 cows and crop 100 acres in addition to custom field work: combining, spraying and liquid manure hauling. They have two children: Alexis, 6, and Aaron, 3. Sponsored by Partnership for a Progressive Agriculture. PH: 715-654-6199, 715-613-0165 (cell). milkman-jo@airrun.net

Tie for 4th Runners-up: Scot & Jennifer Zimmerman, Osseo (Eau Claire County), are part of Zimmerman Family Farms, which has a dairy herd, 300 beef cows and 2,330 acres of cash crops. They have two children, Brian, 4, and Elizabeth, 2. Sponsored by Osseo area businesses and Chippewa Valley OYF. PH: 715-597-2646, 715-586-0058 (cell). slzimmerman@centurytel.net

Speak up for Agriculture winners: Patty and Gary Edelburg, Scandinavia (Portage County) for their outreach & education efforts on behalf of production agriculture PH: 715-570-1526 pgedelburg@wi-net.com

Other participants in the state event: Joe & Angie Draeger, Ripon; Mark & Amelia Duley, Merrill; Jeff, Mark & Kelly Elmhorst, Granton; Aaron & Holly Nelson, Richland Center, and Jeff & Debbie Wille, Rice Lake.

Judges were Jay Richardson, Spring Valley, past OYF state and national winner; Mahlon Peterson, Eau Claire County UW Extension Agriculture Agent; and Brad Guse, Vice President, M&I Bank, Marshfield. Bob Bosold, WAXX Radio, emceed the evening programs.

A “Speak up for Agriculture” training session for the candidates was led by Andrea Brossard Martin of the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB). Candidates also toured Damar Farms (beef), Mondovi, Solhawk Farm (dairy), Chippewa Falls, and Leinenkugel’s Brewery.

Platinum Sponsors: Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin, AgStar Financial Services, CHS Inc. Ken & Ann Reckelburg, Lloyd & Daphne Holterman/Rosy-Lane Holsteins.

Gold Sponsors: The Country Today, Equity Livestock Cooperative, Kuhn Knight Inc., WMMB, Jay & Kristi Richardson, WAXX Radio, Bob Bosold, Eau Claire County UWEX

Silver Sponsors: Wisconsin Ag Connection, Foremost Farms, Second Look Holsteins, M&I Bank, Bob & Karyn Schauf/Indianhead Holsteins, Burnett Dairy Cooperative and Cooperative Resources International. There were nearly 20 Bronze Sponsors and many silent auction donors and purchasers.

Ryan & Michelle Keller, Richland Center, 2010 OYF state winners and national finalists, will represent Wisconsin at the 55th OYF Awards Congress, in February in Louisville, KY.

The Awards Weekend committee included: Harold and Cindy Matton, Ken and Ann Reckelberg, Bob Bosold, Mahlon Peterson, Jerry Clark of UWEX, and Daphne Holterman.

For more information:
Harold or Cindy Matton, 715-833-9649; matton@charter.net or Daphne Holterman, 920-262-0797 or 920-988-6482, rosylane@gdinet.com
Historic Wins for Wisconsin 4-H Teams in Louisville
 

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Wisconsin was the National Champion 4-H Skillathon Team at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, KY! After Reserve Champion finishes over the years, Wisconsin surpassed 19 teams to earn Championship honors. The skillathon team participated in individual and team stations of breed, equipment and meat identification, hay and wool evaluation, quality assurance, nutrition and marketing. “This contest captures youth’s well rounded knowledge of animal science. This is a fabulous finish for Marathon County and the state of Wisconsin,” states Bernie O’Rourke, Extension Youth Livestock Specialist. Team members were: Morgan Zernicke, Theresa Bergs, Aaron Zimmerman (WJSA and AJSA member) and Maddy Schwede. They were coached by Mark Zimmerman and Jon and Joann Brubacher. The team was 1st overall, 2nd in Identification and 1st in Evaluation. Individually Morgan Zernicke was high individual overall and 1st in Evaluation. Theresa Bergs was 3rd high overall and 3rd in Identification. Aaron Zimmerman was 6th high overall and 4th in Identification.

The team from Grant County that represented Wisconsin finished third overall in the 4-H Livestock Judging contest. This was one of the highest finishes in Wisconsin history. This contest was held during the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, KY. Livestock teams judge classes in breeding and market of Beef, Sheep, Swine and Goats as well as answering questions and giving reasons to explain their thought process. “This is a tremendous finish for a great group of youth and their coach who has trained many teams,” states Bernie O’Rourke, Extension Youth Livestock Specialist. Team members were: Kelli Retallick, Shea Esser, Amanda & Brian Patterson (AJSA and WJSA members). They were coached by Dennis Patterson and Alicia Prill-Adams. The team was 3rd in sheep/goats and 6th in Beef. Kelli Retallick was 3rd overall, 1st in Beef and Beef Performance, and 7th in reasons. Amanda Patterson was 21st overall. With this finish, they were awarded the opportunity to travel to Europe to judge and attend the Royal Highland Show in Scotland, June 2011.

These teams won their respective contests at the state level in order to earn the right to represent Wisconsin. A huge congratulation goes to these teams for working hard in preparation for these contests and representing Wisconsin. These results were truly historic and dreams were realized. Contact Bernie O’Rourke, borourke2@ansci.wisc.edu, 608-263-4304, if you have questions about livestock teams.
 

Marathon County Skillathon left to right: Mark Zimmerman (coach), Aaron Zimmerman, Maddy Schwede, Theresa Bergs, Morgan Zernicke and Bernie O’Rourke, Extension Youth Livestock Specialist.

Grant County Livestock left to right:  Dennis Patterson (coach), Kelli Retallick, Amanda Patterson, Shea Esser, Brian Patterson and Bernie O’Rourke, Extension Youth Livestock Specialist.