Early Entry Deadline is June 25 for Michigan Dairy Expo, July 19–23

[EditorBob]

Early Entry Deadline is June 25
for Michigan Dairy Expo, July 19–23

Premium books are now available for the 2010 Michigan Dairy Expo, July 19–23 at the Michigan State University (MSU) Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education in East Lansing. The deadline for early entries is June 25.

This year’s Michigan Dairy Expo once again promises a fun-filled learning environment for Michigan 4-H dairy youth. The state’s purebred dairy breed associations, with direction from the Michigan Purebred Dairy Cattle Association (PDCA), will also host their annual summer open and youth shows July 22-23.

All Michigan youth are encouraged to enter the Michigan Dairy Days Youth Show (open to all youth ages 9 to 19 as of Jan. 1, 2010). Michigan 4-H members are invited to participate in the showmanship classes, dairy quiz bowl, and youth management and judging contests to earn an opportunity to represent the state at national events.

Premiums will be awarded to the top 10 placing animals in the 4-H youth show and for the junior, senior and grand champions. The supreme champion animal and grand champion showperson will also receive money awards. Winners of the dairy quiz bowl and the youth management and judging competitions will be recognized at the Michigan Dairy Expo celebration picnic and 4-H program recognition night July 22. Winners will have the opportunity to represent Michigan at national competitions in the fall.

In addition, the champion heifer entry, champion milking cow entry and champion showperson will take part in the second annual Michigan Livestock Expo Sale-abration auction July 20 at 6 p.m. in the sale arena. At this sale, the champion and reserve champion winners from the Michigan Livestock Expo, held the previous weekend at the MSU Pavilion, will be struck off to the highest bidder. Various dairy products will represent the 4-H dairy youth show champions on the auction block. The champion heifer and milking female owners will receive up to $500 and the champion showperson will receive up to $1,000 from the sale of the dairy items, with any amount above directed to scholarships and the Michigan 4-H dairy youth program.

Michigan’s purebred dairy breed associations – Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey, Milking Shorthorn, and Red and White Holstein – will hold their annual state shows July 22-23. Open and junior shows will take place concurrently; junior shows will be a pull-out class within the individual breed show.

Michigan Dairy Expo will conclude with the awarding of the supreme champion winners selected from the grand champion winners of each breed. The supreme champion showperson will receive a traveling trophy.

The early entry fee deadline for both youth and open show entries is June 25. The early entry fee for the Michigan Dairy Days Youth Show is $5 per animal if postmarked on or before June 25 and $10 per animal if postmarked between June 26 and July 5. The fee for youth show entries postmarked between July 6 and July 19 is $25 per animal. The open show entry fee is $25 per animal if postmarked on or before June 25 and $35 per animal if postmarked between June 26 and July 5. The open show entry fee increases to $50 per animal if postmarked between July 6 and July 19. A portion of open show entry fees will be used to support open show premium payments.

A copy of the Michigan Dairy Expo premium book, which includes an entry form and a complete schedule of events, is available online at http://www.canr.msu.edu/anscikids/dairy.html or www.michigandairyexpo.com or from any MSU Extension county office. To receive a premium book by mail or to request more information about Michigan Dairy Expo, contact Carla McLachlan at 517-432-5402 or mclachl2@msu.edu.

Michigan Dairy Expo is the largest annual dairy event in the state. Last year’s event drew more than 400 dairy animals and more than 200 exhibitors. The mission of Michigan Dairy Expo is to encourage and promote youth involvement in dairy activities, showcase the Michigan dairy industry, and provide continuing education opportunities for the dairy industry in Michigan and neighboring states.