Michigan dairy youth members have until June 15 to register for the educational events and June 22 to register for the dairy animal show at this year’s Michigan Youth Dairy Days.

Michigan Youth Dairy Days are scheduled for July 16-20 and held in conjunction with the Michigan Dairy Expo at the Michigan State University (MSU) Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education on the MSU campus.

Michigan dairy youth members are invited to participate in the conformation and showmanship classes, dairy quiz bowl, and youth management and judging contests to earn an opportunity to represent the state at national events in the fall.

Those who participate in three of the four contests – dairy management, dairy quiz bowl, dairy judging and showmanship – are eligible to be selected as the overall winner based on their performance in each event. The lowest score is dropped of those who participate in all four.

Overall winners in the junior and senior divisions receive a $1,000 scholarship. One runner-up in each division receives a $750 scholarship. Winners will be recognized at the Michigan Dairy Expo celebration picnic and dairy youth program recognition night July 19.

The Michigan Youth Dairy Days Youth Show, open to all youth ages 9 to 19, takes place July 17. Premiums will be awarded to the top 10 placing animals in the youth show and for the junior, senior and grand champions. The supreme champion animal entry and grand champion showperson will also receive money awards.

The deadline to submit entries and pay the $5 entry fee per animal for the youth show is June 22 (postmarked on or before June 22). Late entries will be accepted and charged according to a staggered scale: entries postmarked June 23 through July 1 cost $10 per animal and those postmarked July 2 through July 16 cost $25 per animal.

In addition, the champion heifer entry, champion milking cow entry and champion showperson from the youth show will take part in the fourth annual Michigan Livestock Expo Sale-abration auction July 17 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 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 those figures directed to scholarships and the Michigan dairy youth program.

Dairy management contest
In the dairy management contest, participants work individually to identify equipment, solve problems and demonstrate skills common in the dairy industry. A novice division will be offered for 9-, 10- and 11-year-old contestants. Youth are allowed to compete as a novice for two years before moving on to the junior division.

The dairy management contest will be held on Monday, July 16. Additionally, the winning senior team in the management contest gets the opportunity to represent Michigan in the management contest held during the All-American Dairy Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Dairy judging contest
The dairy judging contest takes place Wednesday, July 18, and is an opportunity for youth to test their dairy evaluation skills. Similar to the management contest, a novice division is offered for 9-, 10- and 11-year-old participants.

Youth in the senior division that place among the top 25 individuals will be invited to participate in a series of practices during the summer to earn a place on the Michigan dairy youth judging teams that compete this fall at the All-American Dairy Show, World Dairy Expo, and the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE).

Dairy quiz bowl
The dairy quiz bowl is another event held during Michigan Youth Dairy Days that provides youth with the chance to demonstrate their dairy knowledge. Participants can compete in either the junior or senior divisions, based on eligibility age, and are organized into teams to compete in the “Jeopardy”-style contest.

The dairy quiz bowl will be held on Thursday, July 19.

The winning dairy quiz bowl team will earn the opportunity to represent Michigan in the National Dairy Quiz Bowl contest held in November at NAILE.

Open shows
The dairy open shows take place on July 19 (Holstein and Jersey futurity classes) and July 20. Entries received on or before June 22 cost $25 per animal. Entries postmarked June 23 through July 1 cost $35 per animal and entries postmarked July 2 through July 18 cost $50 per animal.

Click here to view the Michigan Youth Dairy Days/Michigan Dairy Expo premium book, which includes an entry form and a complete schedule of events. To receive a premium book by mail or to request more information about Michigan Dairy Expo, contact Carla McLachlan at (517) 432-5402 or by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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.  PD

—From Michigan Dairy Expo news release