16 Legislators, Senators Show off their Dairy Showing Skills at Farm Show
Representative Gillespie Group Photo
The Center for Dairy Excellence and PennAg Industries held its 6th VIP Legislative Dairy Showmanship Contest on Wednesday, January 14th during the 99th Pennsylvania Farm Show.
Each year, legislators are invited to borrow an exhibitor’s animal and be coached by the exhibitor on how to show a dairy animal. The legislators are also coached by their peers who have won past VIP Showmanship Contests. This year, Senator John Eichelberger, Representative Mike Tobash and Representative Mark Keller each served as coaches. Senator Elder Vogel Jr also provided guidance to the participants as the host of the event. The legislators paraded their animals into the ring in front of this year’s judge, Sean Johnson from Glenville, Pa. At the conclusion of the show, Judge Johnson chose Representative Keith Gillespie as the winner. Kelly Johnson from Rutter’s Dairy in York, Pa., was his coach and provided her heifer, Wisp, for the event.
Gillespie, R-York County, grew up farming and was part of the local 4-H program. He still raises livestock, which is why showing Wisp, the 13 month old Guernsey, may have looked so natural. He received the Mike Waugh Memorial Cowbell award which is named in honor of the late York County State Senator, who passed away this past October.
The Center for Dairy Excellence and PennAg Industries would like to thank Kirk Sattazahn, director of marketing with Select Sire Power, Inc., for serving as the Master of Ceremonies for the event and the additional legislators who participated in the contest including: Representatives’ Matt Gabler, Jaret Gibbons, Mark Gillen, Sue Helm, Fred Keller, Jerry Knowles, Ryan Mackenzie, David Maloney, Daryl Metcalfe, Marguerite Quinn, Tommy Sankey and Will Tallman. Four Pennsylvania Senators also participated and they included: Mike Folmer, Lloyd Smucker, and Scott Wagner.
Additional thanks goes to the exhibitors who generously provided their animals for the legislators to exhibit: Delaware Valley College, Mason Davis, Amy Brickner, The Hix Family, Jennifer Mapes, The Lesher Family, Brandon Grumbine, Lynette Gelsinger, Manor Meadows Farm, Amanda Hauck, Sharon Nolan, Emily Heilinger, Katelyn Teaman, The Wetzel Family and The Heeter Family.
The Center for Dairy Excellence is a non-profit organization initiated by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture in 2004. Bringing together people from more than 40 different dairy organizations in Pennsylvania, the Center’s mission is to enhance the profitability of the dairy industry by empowering people, creating partnerships, and increasing the availability and use of resources. Learn more about the Center atwww.centerfordairyexcellence.org.
