2020 Jersey Youth Achievement Winners
This past March, 21 of the most active Jersey youth from 12 states submitted applications to the office of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) for the 2019 National Youth Achievement Contest. The National Youth Achievement Contest recognizes Jersey youth from across the country for their leadership, activities and participation in Jersey functions, as well as their success in breeding and managing their own Jersey cattle. Each application was evaluated and ranked by a committee of judges to determine this year’s top 10 individuals.
The awards will be presented to the deserving November 7, 2020, during the All American at the annual Junior Banquet. Cash awards of $4,500 will be divided throughout the recipients and presented at the banquet.
More information about this year’s award winners is available in the September 2020 issue of the Jersey Journal.
First Place
Katarina Emerich, Mooers, N.Y.
Katarina Emerich, Mooers, N.Y.
An agribusiness major at Purdue University, Katarina has been involved with Jersey youth programs for the past 11 years. She participated in the TalkJersey event at Annual Meetings, attended Jersey Youth Academy in 2017, has placed in the National Jersey Youth Production Contest multiple times and shown her Jerseys at local, state and national shows. Katarina is also currently serving the membership as the 2019 First Alternate National Jersey Queen and has received scholarships through the AJCA.
More information about this year’s award winners is available in the September 2019 issue of the Jersey Journal.
Second Place
Kathryn Bosely, Malone, N.Y.
Kathryn Bosely, Malone, N.Y.
No stranger to the green shavings in Louisville, Ky., but her first time in this contest, Kathryn grew up exhibiting animals from her family’s farm, Tierney Jerseys. A senior at SUNY Cobleskill, Kathryn is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in animal science and associate degree in dairy production and management. She has an online social media presence as “Cow Nerd” a platform she uses to educate the public about agriculture. In 2019, Kathryn and her brother, Patrick, exhibited the Junior All American Junior Yearling Heifer, Tierneys Andreas Lorina. She was a member of Jersey Youth Academy in 2017.
More information about this year’s award winners is available in the September 2019 issue of the Jersey Journal.
Third Place
Gracie Krahn, Albany, Ore.
Gracie Krahn, Albany, Ore.
2019 National Jersey Queen Gracie Krahn grew up an active member of her family’s farm, Royal Riverside Farm. In 2018, they started a farmstead creamery from which they sell milk products to 35 stores and coffee shops in Oregon. Gracie is also active on the animal side, doing anything from feeding to milking to managing the show/sale string. Gracie has been an active member of the Oregon Junior Jersey Association and participated in various shows throughout the United States. She will be attending Linn Benton Community College this fall.
More information about this year’s award winners is available in the September 2019 issue of the Jersey Journal.
Fourth Place
Kylie Lehr, Canastota, N.Y.
Kylie Lehr, Canastota, N.Y.
Jersey breeders may recognize the Ky-Hi Jerseys prefix, as Kylie Lehr has worked to make her genetics known in the breed. Currently, her herd consists of 20 cows and 23 heifer. Kylie has consigned animals to the All American and other sales after implementing an IVF strategy on her genetically elite individuals. A senior at Cornell, Kylie is majoring in animal science. She has traveled to Italy, China and California to gain insight about different agricultural practices and economic impacts. Kylie was part of Class V of Jersey Youth Academy and is a 17-year member of the New York State Jersey Junior Club.
More information about this year’s award winners is available in the September 2019 issue of the Jersey Journal.
Fifth Place
Lydia Chittenden, Schodack Landing, N.Y.
Lydia Chittenden, Schodack Landing, N.Y.
Growing up on Dutch Hollow Farm, Lydia is no stranger to the Jersey breed. She’s a lifetime member of the AJCA and long-time member of the New York Jersey Cattle Club and Junior Club. Lydia regularly completed in production contests with her cattle, including the Pot O’Gold and National Jersey Youth Production Contests. In fact, her name can be seen among the placings this year. She attended Class VI of Jersey Youth Academy. Lydia is a sophomore at SUNY Cobleskill where she’s working to obtain a bachelor’s degree in animal science. She’s a member of the dairy cattle club and the university’s women’s basketball team.e information about this year’s award winners is available in the September 2019 issue of the Jersey Journal. More information about this year’s award winners is available in the September 2019 issue of the Jersey Journal. More information about this year’s award winners is available in the September 2019 issue of the Jersey Journal. More information
Sixth Place
Colin Wussow, Cecil, Wis.
Colin Wussow, Cecil, Wis.
The 2019 WI Junior Jersey Breeder of the Year, Colin helps operate Milk-n-More Farms and Harvesting LLC with his parents. Active with both the cattle and the harvesting grew, his skill set is quite diverse. In 2019, Colin was a finalist for the National FFA Dairy Entrepreneurship Proficiency at the National FFA Convention. He was also named the 2018 Wisconsin FFA State STAR Farmer at their annual convention. Colin is a junior at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls where he’s majoring in agriculture business with minors in dairy and crop science. He also attended Jersey Youth Academy in 2019. More information about this year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s year’s award winners is available in the September 2019 issue of the Jersey Journal. More information about this year’s award winners is available in the September 2019 issue of the Jersey Journal.
Seventh Place
Erin Leach, Linwood, Kan.
Erin Leach, Linwood, Kan.
People may recognize Erin from her successful 2019 All American, having the winner of the National Jersey Jug Futurity and Intermediate and Reserve Grand Champion of the All American Junior Show with Page-Crest Virtuoso 148 {5}. Erin recently completed her senior year at Oklahoma State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science with a business option. She was the calf manager for the campus farm, as well as interned at Budjon Farms this past summer. Erin was a member of Class V of Jersey Youth Academy and completed in the 2018 National Jersey Queen competition.
More information about this year’s award winners is available in the September 2019 issue of the Jersey Journal.More information about this year’s award winners is available in the September 2019 issue of the Jersey Journal.
Eighth Place
Josh Seals, Tillamook, Ore.
Josh Seals, Tillamook, Ore.
Josh credits Jersey youth activities with helping him meet individuals of similar interests. Luckily, he has been quite involved throughout his life. Josh grew up on his family’s dairy, Sunny Ridge Dairy LLC, where he played an extremely active role. He’s entering his sophomore year at Eastern Oregon University as an agriculture science major, with plans to return to the home farm someday. Josh is a 13-year member of the Oregon Jersey Cattle Association and has participated in production contest with the organization. Josh was a Jersey Youth Academy attendee in 2019.
More information about this year’s award winners is available in the September 2019 issue of the Jersey Journal.More information about this year’s award winners is available in the September 2019 issue of the Jersey Journal.More information
More information about this year’s award winners is available in the September 2019 issue of the Jersey Journal.More information about this year’s award winners is available in the September 2019 issue of the Jersey Journal.More information
Ninth Place
Abigail Grimm, Princeton, Minn.
Abigail Grimm, Princeton, Minn.
Abby’s experience in the dairy industry comes from being employed by various dairy farms in the area. Nonetheless, Abby has grown and shaped her skills as a dairywoman by constantly challenging herself to become better. She was the 2019 Fred Stout on-farm intern at Broumley Dairy in Hico, Texas, attended Jersey Youth Academy in 2019 and competed in the National Jersey Queen contest. Abby regularly exhibits her animals at local and state shows and recently began exhibiting at national competitions.
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Tenth Place
Willow Voetglen, Columbia Cross Roads, Pa.
Willow Voetglen, Columbia Cross Roads, Pa.
The co-owner of August Gold Jerseys, Willow works to manage her newly established REAP herd from Wisconsin. She currently works as a livestock handler at ABS Global in DeForest, Wis. Willow participated in a wide array of youth activities throughout her youth. Also passionate about helping her community, Willow spearheaded the “Farming is Tough, Darling, But So Are You” campaign in 2019. This effort raised over $2,500 to help give dairy farm families access to mental health care. Willow was a member of Class V of Jersey Youth Academy and placed among the top five twice in the National Jersey Queen competition. More information about this year’s award winners is available in the September 2019 issue of the Jersey Journal.More information about this year’s award winners is
More Information
The competition is open to members of the AJCA who are between the ages of 16 and 20 on January 1 of the contest year, or placed among the top 10 in the previous year’s contest. Applications are due in March. The AJCA provides cash awards totaling $4,500 to the top 10 individuals. Awards will be presented at the Junior Banquet on November 9, 2019, during the All American festivities in Louisville, Ky.
