Wisconsin Holstein Recognizes Distinguished Junior Members

Congratulations to the following youth that will be recognized as Distinguished Junior Member award winners at the 2015 Wisconsin Junior Holstein Convention, to be held January 2-4, 2015, at the Holiday Inn in Fond du Lac, Wis.

Matthew Kramer

Matthew Kramer, 18, is the son of Leo and Chris Kramer. His family owns and operates Chrisleacres Registered Holsteins in St. Cloud. He is a senior at Campbellsport High School where he is FFA President and a National Honor Society member. Additionally, he is a member of the Fond du Lac County Dairy Committee and Junior Holstein Association Board of Directors.  Matthew enjoys showing and judging dairy cattle at county, district, state and national levels.  The highlight of his 2014 show season was being named the Supreme Dairy Showman at the Fond du Lac county Fair for the second year.

Andy Sell

Andy Sell is the 20-year-old son of Rod and Sue Sell of Watertown. He grew up on his family’s 100-cow Registered Holstein farm, Sellcrest Farm. He is currently a sophomore studying dairy science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. On campus, he is involved in the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, the Badger Dairy Club and Collegiate Farm Bureau. He is also very involved in his local and state Holstein associations and currently serves as a member of the Junior Activities Committee for the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association.

Elizabeth Sarbacker

Elizabeth Sarbacker, 19, is a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Madison majoring in dairy science. She is the daughter of Tom and Vicki Sarbacker. Elizabeth grew up on Fischerdale Holsteins, a 65-cow Registered Holstein farm north of Paoli in Dane County. Elizabeth earned many accomplishments this year including the James W. Crowley Award, 9^th in the WI State Fair Premier Exhibitor contest and WI State Fair Reserve Supreme Champion Show Person. She was also a member of the 4-H dairy judging team that traveled to Harrisburg, PA, to compete in the 2014 All-American Dairy Judging contest.

Carrie Warmka

Carrie Warmka, 21, is the daughter of Russ and Laura Warmka, Fox Lake. She lives on her family’s 400-cow grade and Registered Holstein dairy farm with her siblings Erik, Brad and Danielle. Carrie is currently a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she is majoring in dairy science. On campus, Carrie is involved in Badger Dairy Club, the Association of Women in Agriculture, National Agri-Marketing Association and Sigma Alpha-Alpha Tau agricultural sorority. Carrie enjoys being active through the Dodge County Junior Holstein Association, where she serves as president and is on the dairy bowl and judging teams.

Charlie Hamilton

Charlie Hamilton, 19 of Cuba City, is a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in dairy science. On campus he is a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. A member of the Grant County, Wisconsin and National Junior Holstein Associations, he currently serves as president to his county association and is a member of the Wisconsin Junior Activities Committee. Charlie is a 2014 recipient of Wisconsin State FFA Degree, and placed second in the WI State Fair Premier Exhibitor contest.  He owns 30 head of Registered Holsteins on his family’s dairy farm, Hill-Ton Holsteins, which he operates with his parents, John and Evie Hamilton.

Rachel Hartlaub

Rachel Hartlaub is the 21-year-old daughter of David and Rosemary Hartlaub from Cleveland.  She has four older sisters: Colleen, Alissa, Elizabeth and Laurie. Rachel is a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in dairy science. She is a member of the Badger Dairy Club, collegiate Farm Bureau and the Association of Women in Agriculture. Additionally, she is the storage chair for World Dairy Expo and is on the dairy judging team. She is also on the Junior Activities Committee and has held previous internships at the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin and Arethusa Farm. Rachel enjoys being active and working on her family’s farm of 50 Registered Holsteins.

Austin Nauman

Austin Nauman, 17, is the son of Danielle Nauman and Scott Stanford. A junior at Sparta High School, Austin is active in FFA, serving as the chapter president and plays on the varsity hockey team. Austin is involved in 4-H, dairy bowl and jeopardy, and dairy judging. He was chosen as a 2013 National YDJM Finalist. Austin owns 15 head of registered cattle, including 11 Jerseys, three Holsteins and one Ayrshire. He enjoys clipping and working at shows and sales and has begun working as a fitter. He also is working to develop a herd of elite individuals from which he can market animals. 

Karsen Haag

Karsen Haag attends Southwest Technical College studying agribusiness, where she is a Student Ambassador, on Student Senate, a member of PAS and dairy judging team. Karsen is active with PDPW and an assistant superintendent at the Dane County Fair. She previously served as Dane County Junior Holstein President and Holstein Queen. She exhibits and fits at various fairs, shows and World Dairy Expo. A 4-H member for 11 years, she excels in archery, dairy and foods and is also a Red and White junior member. Karsen is very active on her family’s 190-cow Registered Holstein dairy and plans to return to the dairy farm.

Kayla Krueger

Kayla Krueger is the 20-year-old daughter of Tyler and April Krueger and resides on a 350-acre dairy farm in Marion where they milk 60 Holsteins. Kayla currently attends the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she is a junior majoring in dairy science and life sciences communication. On campus, Kayla is very active in the Badger Dairy Club, serving as a World Dairy Expo Chair and Badger Invitational Sale Chair. Kayla is also serving as this year’s intern for PDPW. She shows at the district, state and national levels. Within WHA, Kayla has received DJM honors, participated in dairy bowl and received a scholarship, in addition to serving as this year’s Wisconsin Holstein Association Princess.

Lizi Endres

Lizi Endres is the 19-year-old daughter of Steve and Kathy Endres. She grew up on her family’s 350-cow Registered Holstein farm, Endres Berryridge Farms, LLC, in Waunakee. She is currently a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Madison majoring in dairy science. This past summer, she was accepted into the Food Animal Veterinary Medical Scholars (FAVeMedS) Program, which is an early admission program into the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine. On campus, she is a member of the Association of Women in Agriculture, Badger Dairy Club, the collegiate dairy judging team, and is a research assistant in the Hernandez Laboratory, which studies metabolic factors affecting hypocalcemia.

Cassie Endres

Cassie Endres is the 21-year-old daughter of Steve and Kathy Endres. Cassie grew upon her family’s 350-cow Registered Holstein farm, Endres Berryridge Farms, LLC. Currently, she is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison majoring in dairy science and life sciences communication. On campus, she is a member of the Badger Dairy Club and the Association of Women in Agriculture. This year at the National Intercollegiate Dairy Judging Contest at World Dairy Expo, Cassie was high individual in oral reasons and a member of the winning team from UW- Madison.

Ryan Pralle

Ryan Pralle is the 21-year-old son of Scott Pralle and Pam Selz-Pralle. He grew up on a 400-cow dairy farm in Humbird. A UW-Madison senior majoring in dairy science, Ryan plans to obtain a PhD in nutrition genomics. This past summer he received the Farrington Award, which supplied grant money for Ryan to execute his own research project under the supervision of Heather White, P.D. He also works as a research assistant performing a wide range of duties on the USDA Feed Efficiency project. Ryan was honored as a National Distinguished Junior Member Finalist during the National Holstein Convention in Dubuque, IA.

Jessica Pralle

Jessica Pralle, 19, is a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Madison majoring in dairy science. On campus, she is active in the Badger Dairy Club, Wisconsin Women for Agriculture, Collegiate Farm Bureau and NAMA. Jessica earned many accomplishments this year including the John Klossner Award for placing first in the WI State Fairy Premier Exhibitor contest. She also competed on Team Wisconsin at the National 4-H Dairy Judging Contest in Louisville, KY, placing second team and earning 9^th high individual overall honors. Jessica grew up on Selz-Pralle Dairy, a 400-cow Registered Holstein farm in Humbird. Jessica is the daughter of Scott & Pam Selz-Pralle.

Cassy Krull

Cassandra "Cassy" Krull is the 21-year-old daughter of Cindy Krull and the late Brian Krull, and sister to Bryce and Carley. Cassy has been raised on her family's 50-cow Registered Holstein farm, Krull Farms in Lake Mills, WI. Cassy is currently a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville majoring in animal science with a dairy emphasis. In the future Cassy hopes to continue her involvement with the WI Holstein Association and one day own and operate her own dairy farm. 

Wisconsin Holstein Recognizes Young Distinguished Junior Members

Congratulations to the following youth that will be recognized as Young Distinguished Junior Award winners at the 2015 Wisconsin Junior Holstein Convention, to be held January 2-4, 2015, at the Holiday Inn in Fond du Lac, Wis.

Courtney Moser

Courtney Moser is the 15-year-old daughter of Cary and Joy Moser of Westby. Their farm consists of 550 acres of cropland where they raise alfalfa and grass hay, corn and soybeans.  Following their Dream-Prairie dispersal, their herd now consists of 25 milking cows and 175 heifers. Courtney’s duties on the farm include caring for the calves, clean up in the milk house, cleaning and scraping the barn, and helping with night milking when able.  She also drives truck and trailer in the field while picking up big bales.

Kalista Hodorff

Kalista Hodorff is the 15-year-old daughter of Corey and Tammy Hodorff of Eden. She is a sophomore at Campbellsport High School. Kalista is a member of the Armstrong 4-H Club, Fond du Lac County Junior Holsteins, Tabor UMC youth group and Campbellsport FFA. She enjoys playing soccer and basketball, is an assistant youth soccer coach and teaches Sunday school.  Kalista has 3 sisters: Kayli, Kaianne, and Kaydence, who are also involved on their family’s dairy farm, Second Look Holsteins, LLC.

Kaianne Hodorff

Kaianne Hodorff is the 13-year-old daughter of Corey and Tammy Hodorff of Eden. She is in eighth grade at Campbellsport Junior High School. Kaianne is a member of the Armstrong 4-H Club, FDL County Junior Holsteins, Tabor UMC youth group and Campbellsport FFA. She enjoys playing volleyball, soccer and basketball. Kaianne helps teach Sunday school. She has three sisters: Kayli, Kalista and Kaydence, who are also involved on their family’s dairy farm, Second Look Holsteins, LLC.

Michael Moede

Michael Moede is the 16-year-old son of Rob and Debbie Moede. He has a younger sister, Megan, and the family resides on an 80-acre farm near Algoma in Kewaunee County. Michael is a junior at Algoma High School, a member of the Algoma FFA and an honor roll student. He enjoys playing on the high school basketball and baseball teams, attending Packer games and hunting. During the summer months he likes to show cattle and participate in dairy judging contests. 

Elise Bleck

Elise Bleck is the 13-year-old daughter of Dr. Jeff and Dr. Lea Ann Bleck of Glenbeulah. Elise along with her parents and brother, Brady, live on Bleckview family farm where she raises her Holstein and Brown Swiss show cattle. Elise exhibited the 2014 Reserve Junior All-Wisconsin Fall Heifer Calf. She also won Junior Showmanship at the Midwest National Holstein Spring Show. Elise attended the 2014 National Holstein Convention and participated in the speaking contest and folding display competition. She is the secretary of the Sheboygan County Junior Holstein Association and vice-president of the Spring Valley 4-H Club. She also plays basketball, volleyball and enjoys swimming and dance class.

Kylie Nickels

Kylie Nickels is the 13-year-old daughter of Tom and Penni Nickels. She is the sixth generation to live on the family farm, located in Dodge County. Kylie is an eighth grader at St. Mark’s Lutheran School in Watertown. She is on the high honor roll, a member of the school choir, very active in the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association, a member of the Red and White Holstein Association and Richwood Ranger 4-H. She enjoys dairy bowl, dairy judging, showmanship contests and showing dairy cattle. Kylie and her older brother Dawson are currently building their own herd under the Dreamfix Holstein prefix.

Dawson Nickels

Dawson Nickels is the son of Thomas and Penni Nickels of Watertown. He is currently a sophomore at Watertown Public High School where he is involved in the Watertown FFA Chapter serving as the Secretary. He is also a member in the National Technical Honors Society and is a high honor student. Dawson is involved in the Richwood Rangers 4-H Club and is very active in the Dodge County Junior Holstein Association. He participates in dairy judging, dairy bowl and dairy jeopardy. Dawson enjoys exhibiting his animals at shows, and he and sister Kylie are beginning their herd of show cattle under the Dreamfix Holsteins prefix.

Alli Walker

Alli Walker is the 15-year-old daughter of John and Marci Walker of Wisconsin Dells. She is enjoying growing up on a 100-cow Registered Holstein farm with her younger brother Brett and has loved going to the farm since she could walk. She really likes to share with her friends where their food comes from when they visit the farm. Alli helps on the farm with the calves, show cattle, milking and herd health care. Off of the farm, Alli is active with her church youth group, softball, basketball and FFA. She is also passionate about her laying hens, cats, border collie and yellow lab.

Lindsey Sarbacker

Lindsey Sarbacker is the 15-year-old daughter of David and Candi Sarbacker. They reside at Floydholm, an 80-acre farm near Edgerton, along with sister Ashlyn and brother Cole, where they house show heifers. Lindsey is a sophomore at Stoughton High School and is part of the Student Senate and FFA. She has been on the Dane County junior team for dairy quiz bowl and dairy judging, and currently serves as the reporter for the Dane County Junior Holstein breeders. Lindsey is also a member of the Triangle Troopers 4-H Club and currently serves as secretary. She enjoys showing multiple breeds of cattle at local, district, state and national levels.

Rachel McCullough

Rachel McCullough is the 15-year-old daughter of Chris and Kathie McCullough from Juda. She also has a brother, Mac. Rachel is in ninth grade at Juda Public School, a member of the Spring Grove Honest Workers 4-H Club, Juda FFA and Green County Junior Holsteins. She enjoys showing at county, district, state and national shows. In her spare time, Rachel likes to go to shows and sales with her dad.

Brooke Trustem

Brooke Trustem is the 16-year-old daughter of Sandy Larson and Jim Trustem. She is a junior at Evansville High School and has two brothers, Dane and Luke. Brooke and her extended family farm together at Larson Acres, Inc. She has been showing cattle since she was five years old.  Brooke’s daily responsibilities include caring for the show/sale cattle, calf care and entering data into the computer. Brooke is a member of Magnolia 4-H Club, Evansville FFA Chapter and St. Paul’s Catholic Church. Her other interests include basketball and hanging out with her friends.

Wisconsin Holstein Recognizes 12 & Under Award Winners

Congratulations to the following youth that will be recognized as 12 and Under award winners at the 2015 Wisconsin Junior Holstein Convention, to be held January 2-4, 2015, at the Holiday Inn in Fond du Lac, Wis.

Hannah Hensel

Hannah Hensel, 11, is in sixth grade and lives in Pittsville with her parents, Michael and Paul Hensel and her two sisters. Besides being active in her church and community, she is also a member of Wood County Junior Holsteins, 4-H, and excels in many project areas, her favorite being dairy animals. She works with Tree-Hayven Holsteins, owned by Adam Borchert and Chelsey Karl of Auburndale. She owns Tree-Hayven HH My Julia-Red and Ofski Adonis Alice. Hannah has shown her heifers in many Holstein shows and has won many championships.

Sara Dorshorst

Sara Dorshorst is the nine-year-old daughter of Dr. Matthew and Molly Dorshorst. She lives on a 60-cow Registered Holstein farm in Junction City with her two sisters, Emma and Clair, as well as her brother, Wyatt. She is active in Bethany Lutheran Church, Badger 4-H club, plays softball and basketball and enjoys piano lessons. She has three Registered Holstein cattle of her own and has enjoyed showing them at county and district shows. Sara enjoys showing her cattle affection by scratching them under the chin. She does not like picking rock. When she grows up she wants to be a Veterinarian. 

McKenzie Calvert

McKenzie Calvert is the fifth generation at Moorclose Holsteins in Cuba City. Her 425-acre farm is home to 175 Registered Holsteins. McKenzie is the daughter of Bill and Kelle Calvert and has a twin sister, Madison, as well as a brother, Payton. McKenzie is 12 years old and is a seventh grader at St. Rose School. Her activities include volleyball, basketball and softball as well as being active in Lafayette County Junior Holsteins and Merry Mixers 4-H. She is especially interested in dairy bowl, showing and dairy judging. 

Drew Noble

Drew Noble is the 12-year-old son of Troy and Jaime Noble. He lives on a dairy, beef and crop farm in Lancaster where his family farms 1000 acres and milks 160 Registered Holsteins. He has two sisters, Ainsley and Macie. Drew is in seventh grade at Platteville Middle School where he plays baseball, football and basketball. He is a member of Grant County Junior Holstein Association and Dairyland Diamonds 4-H Club. He has participated in various showing, judging and dairy bowl competitions.

Clarissa Ulness

Clarissa Ulness is the 10-year-old daughter of Mark and Angie Ulness. Clarissa calls Ragnar Holsteins home, a 76-cow Registered Holstein farm in Valders. She has two brothers, Garrett and Walker and a sister, Whitney. Clarissa enjoys dairy judging, dairy jeopardy, dairy bowl and most of all, showing. This year she was honored to win the t-shirt design contest and created the winning state banner at the Junior Holstein Convention. She is a fifth grader at Valders Middle School, member of the Liberty Go-Getters 54-H club and enjoys art, club volleyball and playing trombone. 

Jacob Harbaugh

Jacob Harbaugh is the nine-year-old son of Lynn and Sara Harbaugh of Marion. Jacob has a brother, Logan, and a sister, Madison. He is currently in fourth grade at St. Martin Lutheran School in Clintonville. At home, he is involved with Bella-View Holsteins, a Registered Holstein heifer operation. He owns six animals and enjoys showing them at several county, district, state and national shows. Jacob participates in dairy bowl and is a member of the Shawano County Junior Holstein Association. He is also a member of the County Line 4-H club where he currently serves as the reporter. Jacob enjoys playing basketball, football and baseball.

Grady Wendorf

Grady Wendorf is the 11-year-old son of Troy and Sarah Wendorf of Ixonia. With his brother Lane and his parents, they farm 940 acres and raise registered show heifers and cows. Grady is the fourth generation at Crescentmead Farms, a sixth grader at Nature Hill Intermediate School, a member of the Bandit’s Gold football team, and the Oconomowoc Junior Legion Band. He is involved in Dodge County Junior Holsteins and currently serves as secretary of the County Line 4-H club. Grady participates in dairy bowl and the dairy judging team. Grady enjoys showing at district, state and national levels and is learning to deer hunt with his dad.

Megan Moede

Megan Moede is the 12-year-old daughter of Rob and Debbie Moede. Along with her parents and brother Michael, she resides on an 80-acre farm near Algoma in Kewaunee County. She is in seventh grade at St. Mary’s School in Algoma. Megan enjoys the St. Mary’s Destination Imagination program and has done very well at the regional, state and global competitions. She is a member of the Algoma girls’ basketball and softball teams. Megan enjoys showing and judging Holstein and Jersey dairy cattle at county, district and state events.

Hunter Crowley

Hunter Crowley is the 12-year-old son of Patrick and Jennifer Crowley of Omro and has a younger brother Brye. Hunter is a seventh grader at Omro Middle School where he is on the high honor roll, plays football, basketball, soccer, piano and percussion in the school band. He is very active in Boy Scouts, secretary of Plain V-U 4-H Club and Winnebago County Junior Holsteins, dairy judging, dairy bowl, and 4-H ambassadors. Hunter owns two Registered Holsteins and has been showing for four years at county, district and state levels. He looks forward to increasing his herd size in the future.

Colton Brandel

Colton Brandel is the 10-year-old son of Matthew and Tracy Brandel. Colton has two younger sisters, Ashley and Katie, and a little brother, Justin. His family partners in Straussdale Holsteins, LLC, where they milk 200 Registered Holsteins in Lake Mills. Colton is a fourth grader at Prospect Elementary School. He attended is active in quiz bowl and dairy judging, and enjoys showing at the Jefferson County Fair, WI State Fair and North American Livestock Expo. He loves dairy cattle and helps any way he can on the farm. He also enjoys playing football, wrestling, archery and volunteering at various dairy promotion activities in his community.

Hannah Hockerman

Hannah Hockerman is the 12-year-old daughter of Greg and Dawn Hockerman of Westfield. She lives on her family’s 1200-acre dairy farm with her parents and two brothers, Hayden and Holden. They milk 375 cows three times a day. Her hobbies include playing softball, working on the farm and showing at the county fair. Hannah is a member of the Westfield Middle School volleyball and basketball teams, band, District 5 Junior Holstein Association, and Westfield FFA.

Brett Walker

Brett Walker is the 12-year-old son of John and Marci Walker and brother of Alli Walker.  He lives on a 100 milking cow family dairy farm (Walk-Era Farms) near Wisconsin Dells.  Chores that you might see him doing are hauling out the morning waste feed and helping out with calf chores. Brett also enjoys dairy judging, competing in dairy bowl and showing. He is also involved in band, basketball, baseball and football. Brett is a member of the District 5 Junior Holstein Club, Leeds Prairie Pals 4-H and the Briggsville United Methodist Church.

Madison Calvert

Madison Calvert lives in Cuba City with her family on a 425-acre dairy farm. They milk 80 Registered Holsteins in a tie stall barn. Madison helps to care for the calves, break show animals to lead and wash them, clean the farm, bed the barns, put the cows in, help milk cows, get ready for classifying and much more. She is 12 years old and in seventh grade at St. Rose School in Cuba City. Outside of the farm, Madison is involved in basketball, volleyball, softball, Lafayette County Junior Holsteins and the Merry Mixers 4-H Club.

Jared Abraham

Jared Abraham is the 11-year-old son of Todd and Kara Abraham of Plymouth. Jared, along with his parents, sister Macie, and grandparents, own and operate A-B Lane Farm and Ja-Mac Holsteins. Jared is a sixth grader at St. John Lutheran School and enjoys sports - especially golf. He is a member of the Sheboygan County Junior Holstein Association and the Spring Valley 4-H Club. He enjoys participating in dairy judging contests, dairy quiz bowl and showing his Holsteins at the fair.