2022 12 & Under Recognition and YDJM Winners

Royce Booth is the 11-year-old son of Chris and Courtney Booth of Plymouth. Royce, along with his parents and siblings Campbell, Ava and Cole, own and operate Booth-Haven Holsteins. Royce loves making friends and competing in dairy bowl and showmanship contests. This year, Royce had two homebred heifers, BoothHaven Flashy Lady and Booth-Haven Classic-Red, and earned Champion Bred and Owned Heifer and Honorable Mention Junior Champion with Flashy at the Sheboygan County Fair. Royce loves sports and math and wants to help farmers solve problems as an ag engineer in the future.

Evan Brey is the 11-year-old son of Tony and Moriah Brey of Sturgeon Bay. He has a five-year-old sister, Alexa. The family resides at Brey Cycle Farm LLC, a 700-cow Registered Holstein farm owned by Evan’s mom and dad and aunt and uncle. Evan is a fifth grader at Southern Door Elementary School. Outside of working on the farm, reading Holstein bull proofs, and learning Holstein facts, Evan enjoys playing basketball and soccer, music, acting in school plays, and being a member of the school news broadcast team.

Kayla Buttles is the 12-year-old daughter of Andy and Lyn Buttles, Lancaster. She attends Lancaster Middle School where she is in the seventh grade. Kayla enjoys playing the cello and bass clarinet, attending events with the Merry Mixers 4-H club, playing tennis, volleyball, and basketball, and preparing and showing her cattle. She and her sister Christina live on Stone-Front Farm where she loves to spend time with her family and learn about all aspects of the farm.

Elise Gilbertson is the 9-year-old daughter of Erik and Brenda Gilbertson, Hollandale. Elise has three sisters, Makenna, Naydeen, Janelle, and one brother, Braxton. On her family’s farm, Gildale Holsteins, she helps with feeding calves, pet chores and babysitting younger siblings. She likes exploring in the cattle pastures and doesn’t let her size stop her from moving cattle when needed. She has shown at district and county levels. Elise is in the fourth grade at Pecatonica Elementary and enjoys being on a cheer and tumbling competition team, secretary of the Blue Ribbon 4-H Club, and playing softball.

Makenna Gilbertson is the 12-year-old daughter of Erik and Brenda Gilbertson, Hollandale. Makenna has three younger sisters, Elise, Naydeen and Janelle, and one brother, Braxton. On her family’s farm, Gildale Holsteins, Makenna helps with calf chores, recordkeeping and loves pedigrees. She is learning about sires and mating decisions. Makenna is vice president of the Blue Ribbon 4-H Club and member of Iowa County Junior Holsteins. She is in dairy bowl, dairy judging and exhibited at national, state, district and county levels. Makenna is in the sixth grade at Pecatonica Middle School enjoying band, choir, dance, theatre, softball and volleyball.

Madison Harbaugh is the 11-year-old daughter of Lynn and Sara Harbaugh, Marion. Madison has two brothers, Jacob and Logan. She is currently in sixth grade at St. Martin Lutheran School in Clintonville. At home, she is actively involved with Bella-View Holsteins and works with about 10 show heifers daily. Madison is a member of Shawano County Junior Holsteins where she participates in dairy bowl, jeopardy, and judging. She is also a member of the County Line 4-H Club and enjoys participating in the Shawano County Fair in the dairy, swine, cake decorating and photography projects. Madison is also involved in volleyball, basketball, and cheer.

Adella Loehr is the 10-year-old daughter of Kurt and Sarah Loehr of Eden. She has one younger sister, Ainsley. On her family farm, Forest Ridge Holsteins, she helps care for 180 head of Registered Holsteins, one Chocolate Lab and a small herd of cats. Adella is in fourth grade at St. Paul’s Lutheran School where she participates in volleyball, basketball, cheerleading and music lessons, and plays league softball. She is a member of the South Byron 4-H Club and the Junior Holstein Association, participating in dairy bowl and the speaking contest at Junior Convention and showing at local, state and national shows.

Natalie Mauk is the 12-year-old daughter of Bryan and Brittney Mauk from Plymouth, where she resides on her family’s Mauk-E-Way Farm. Natalie is the oldest of five siblings. She is in seventh grade at Riverview Middle School. She loves participating in judging and showmanship contests at all levels. At the 2022 Sheboygan County Fair, Natalie won the Premier Exhibitor contest and she won a clipping chute. In addition, she is an avid basketball player, playing AAU ball, and is active in cross country.

Lexi Metzler is the homeschooled 10-year-old daughter of Mike and Heather Metzler of Vernon County. Lexi has three younger siblings, Conner, Aimee, and Caiden. Most evenings you can find her right down the road at her grandparents’ farm, Welsh-Edge Holsteins. Lexi enjoys all aspects on the farm but some of her favorite things to do are bringing the calves in from the pasture, showing cows and heifers, and halter breaking calves. Aside from the farm, Lexi likes soccer, baking, horseback riding, and reading.

Braelyn Sarbacker is the 11-year-old daughter of Joe and Sarah Sarbacker of Verona. Braelyn grew up on Fischerdale Holsteins with her parents and sisters, Payton and Reagan. Braelyn enjoys showing Holsteins and spending time with her family at the shows. She has always had a love for animals and is determined to help with whatever needs to get done. She is a member of the Paoli 4-H Fireballs 4-H Club and the Dane County Junior Holstein Association. Braelyn also enjoys playing soccer, swimming and basketball.

Madison Sarbacker is the sixth-grade daughter of Nick and Jessica Sarbacker and sister to Melanie. She helps her family operate Heritage Holsteins and Agnew Farms near Whitewater, where they grow corn and soybeans in addition to developing a small herd of Registered Holsteins. Madison enjoys swimming, 4-H activities, and showing calves at her local shows. Her favorite job on the farm is feeding newborn calves and watching them grow.

Landon Todd J Wendorf is the 12-yearold son of Todd and Christa Wendorf. He has a younger sister, Mylie. Landon is a part of the family farm, Crescentmead, where he helps with milking chores and field work as much as possible. Landon is in seventh grade at Nature Hill Intermediate in Oconomowoc. He plays the baritone in the seventh grade band and jazz band. He is a member of the County Line 4-H Club, Dodge County Junior Holstein Association and Faith UCC Church. Landon’s goal is to either be a professional cattle fitter like his father or work on farm machinery.

Alivia Wiese is the 12-year-old daughter of Dan and Angela Wiese. She has two sisters, Madison, 16 and Elsie, 4. This year she is a seventh grader at Wrightstown Middle School. She has been a part of the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association for four years. In the Spring of 2022, Alivia and her sisters founded the NEWGEN prefix. Besides Junior Holsteins, Alivia is a part of the Wrightstown 4-H Club where she has held many leadership positions. She also enjoys playing softball, piano, and clarinet. Alivia is excited for her future within the Holstein and Jersey breeds!

Jaron Begert, 13, is the son of Brian and Kari Begert and farms with his family at Echowood Holsteins where they milk 600 registered cows. Jaron is active in Clark County Junior Holsteins, participating in dairy bowl and showing his Holsteins. Jaron loves to farm, helping with all tasks from packing bunker to pushing feed to cleaning heifer packs to herd health. He and his dad have produced over 70 videos that they share on YouTube to educate consumers on what farmers do every day to take care of their animals. When not on the farm, Jaron likes to ski, hunt, fish and drive on ATV trails.

Justin Brandel is the 12-year-old son of Matthew and Tracy Brandel. Justin has two younger sisters, Ashley and Katie, along with an older brother, Colton. His family partners in Straussdale Holsteins LLC, where they milk 160 Registered Holsteins near Lake Mills in Jefferson County. Justin helps with various farm chores including working with show calves. He is in the seventh grade at Lake Mills Middle School and enjoys participating in 4-H, Junior Holstein events, and volunteering at various dairy promotion activities in his community as well as showing lambs, playing basketball and training his mini donkeys.

Katie Brandel is the 13-year-old daughter of Matthew and Tracy Brandel. Katie has an older sister, Ashley, and two brothers, Colton and Justin. Her family partners in Straussdale Holsteins LLC, where they milk 160 Registered Holsteins near Lake Mills in Jefferson County. Katie enjoys working with her show cattle and helping

out on the family farm. Katie is in the eighth grade at Lake Mills Middle School and enjoys participating in 4-H, Junior Holstein events, and volunteering as various dairy promotion activities in her community as well as playing basketball and soccer.

Alison Gartman is the 14-year-old daughter of Luke and Liz Gartman. She is a freshman at Kohler High School and actively works on her family’s farm, PhilMar-Ru Farms. She and her siblings, Leo and Brianna, have a group of heifers of various breeds that they show each year at county, district, state and national levels. She also enjoys showing and working with her beef cattle, participating in dairy jeopardy, dairy bowl, and the prepared public speaking contest, all of which she has been successful with in her Junior Holstein career.

Cathryn Gunst is the 16-year-old daughter of Willis and Carla Gunst, Pine River. On the farm, Cathryn helps take care of her heifers. Cathryn is involved in 4-H, where she has served as secretary/treasurer and participates in a variety of community service events. As a member of the Junior Holstein Association, she is on the dairy bowl team, does dairy jeopardy and participates in other contests. In addition, she shows her cattle at the local, state and national level. She is serving as her FFA chapter’s sentinel. She plays volleyball, basketball and runs track and enjoys singing and playing piano.

Christopher Gunst is the 16-year-old son of Willis and Carla Gunst, Pine River. On the farm, Christopher helps with taking care of his heifers and making hay. Christopher is involved in 4-H, participating in a variety of community service events. As a member of the Junior Holstein Association, he is on the dairy bowl team, enjoys dairy jeopardy and participates in the speaking contest and other events. In addition, he shows his cattle at the county fair, district show, state show, state fair and World Dairy Expo. He loves to play soccer, basketball, baseball, football and track and is active in his school’s FFA program.

Thirteen-year-old Vivian Lichty, Beaver Dam, farms with her parents, Steve and Dori Lichty, and her brother, Winston. At In-style Holsteins and Jerseys, Vivian, Winston, and Vivian’s friend, Sevanna Fairbank, are almost solely responsible for raising all heifers under one year old. In addition to showing at the county, state, and national level, Vivian enjoys dairy bowl, jeopardy, the speaking contest, and dairy judging. She is a member of the Hyland Prairie 4-H Club and serves as secretary. When Vivian’s not farming or with

Leah Mess is the 14-year-old daughter of Austin and Deb Mess of Rosendale. She has an older sister, Kaylee, and an older brother, Sam. She is an eighth grader at Rosendale Intermediate School and a member of the Fond du Lac Junior Holsteins and the Busy Bee’s 4-H Club. Leah enjoys dairy bowl, dairy judging, and helping with milking and calf chores on her family’s farm, Just R Mess Dairy.

Laney Neuser, the 13-year-old daughter of Jim and Sarah Neuser, resides in Cato. She is an active member of the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association and the Maribel Mighty Kids 4-H Club, where she is the current secretary. Laney is an eighth grader at St. John’s Lutheran School in Maribel. She participates in forensics and the math bowl team. Laney competes in dairy bowl and dairy jeopardy for Manitowoc County Junior Holstein Association. She enjoys showing dairy cattle, especially showmanship, at county, district and state levels.

Ella Raatz, of Clark County, is the daughter of Al and Teri Raatz, Colby. She is a sophomore at Colby High School. Although she doesn’t live on a farm, she has partnered with local farmers to show some of their Registered Holsteins and to house her growing herd. She currently owns three Holsteins and one Jersey. She is very active in 4-H, FFA and the Junior Holstein Association. Her participation in Junior Holsteins includes competing on the county junior dairy bowl team, participating in fitting and showing clinics, and the state dairy judging and showmanship contests.

Cameron Ryan is the 13-year-old son of Chad and Amy Ryan of Fond du Lac and has one brother, Dylan. Cameron is very involved in his grandparents’ dairy farm, Ryan-Vu Holsteins. There, he assists with feeding heifers, caring for his show heifers and other aspects of the day-to-day chores. He enjoys going to and showing his cattle at the local, district, state and national levels. He also likes competing in dairy bowl, dairy jeopardy and dairy judging contests. He is an eighth grader at the Lomira Middle School, where he plays football, basketball and baseball.

Dylan Ryan is the 14-year-old son of Chad and Amy Ryan of Fond du Lac and has one brother, Cameron. Dylan is very active on his grandparents’ dairy farm, Ryan-Vu Holsteins. There, he assists