4-H Dairy Youth from Chautauqua County proudly display their ribbons earned at the Western District 4-H Dairy Bowl Contest. Left to right, starting in the front, kneeling: Lance Griswold, Max White, Standing: Ava Burridge; Middle: Dayne Jantzi, Larsen Swan, Natalie White; Erma Wolcott and Elizabeth Burridge; Back: Miranda Nickerson, LynnDee Nagel, Cole Nickerson, and Bob Nagel. Absent from photo: Anna Carlberg.

JAMESTOWN — Thirteen outstanding 4-H dairy members represented Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s 4-H Youth Development Program by participating in the Western District Dairy Quiz Bowl competition at Pioneer Middle School in Yorkshire, NY on Saturday, March 2.

Dairy Bowl is a quiz bowl contest where the youth answer questions related to dairy cattle and the dairy industry, and are recognized on their placings as individuals and as teams. The primary objective of the 4-H Dairy Bowl contest is to provide an opportunity for 4-H youth to demonstrate their knowledge of dairy related subject matter in a competitive setting where attitudes of friendliness and fairness prevail. Dairy Bowl is an educational experience for both participants and spectators. A total of 61 youth from Allegany, Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara and Wyoming Counties participated.

Honors were given in each division to the top ten individual placings. These placings were determined by the number of points each 4-H member earned overall answering quiz bowl questions throughout the contest.

Dayne Jantzi, member of the Clymer Eager Beavers 4-H Club excelled in the contest, placing first in the Junior Division in the overall Western District Contest, which secures his position on the Junior Team that will compete at the New York State Dairy Bowl Contest at Cornell University in April. Larsen Swan, lone member, Sherman, placed tenth overall Junior at the Western District Dairy Bowl Contest.

In the Beginners Division, ages 8 -10, Anna Carlberg, Frewsburg Hayseeds, placed ninth; Lance Griswold, lone member, Sherman placed sixth; and Max White, Clymer Eager Beavers, placed seventh. Their Beginners Team received third place overall in the contest.

One of the Chautauqua County 4-H Junior dairy bowl teams (ages 9 -14) included Dayne Jantzi, Clymer Eager Beavers; Cole Nickerson, Clymer Eager Beavers; and Erma Wolcott, lone member, Mayville, placed fifth as a team. The other junior team included Ava Burridge, lone member, Cassadaga; Larsen Swan, lone member, Sherman; and Natalie White, Clymer Eager Beavers 4-H Club.

In the Senior Division (ages 14-19), Bob Nagel, lone member, Clymer earned a very prestigious placing, as he stood fifth in the top ten. Other team members included Elizabeth Burridge, lone member, Cassadaga; Miranda Nickerson, Clymer Eager Beavers; and LynnDee Nagel, lone member, Clymer. Their Senior Team placed third in the contest.

Much appreciation to the volunteers who coach the dairy bowl youth, Sarah Bean of Ashville and Mary Jantzi, of Clymer, for sharing their dairy knowledge and passion teaching the 4-H Dairy Youth.

Congratulations to all of our participants this year. Your enthusiasm, comradery, and dedication to learning all of the facts for such challenging questions concerning the dairy industry are something of which to be very proud. The future looks bright! Thanks for representing Chautauqua County 4-H in such an exceptional manner.

The 4-H Youth Development Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua). CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.