4-H Canada marked World Milk Day with its announcement of the winners of the 4-H Canada World Dairy Expo Competition, presented in partnership with Armstrong Cheese. As part of this competition, eight senior 4-H members from dairy clubs across Canada have been chosen to attend the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin from October 1 to 5, 2019.
The eight winners are: Cassie Allen, of L’Orignal and Cynthia Campbell, Jennika Fuller, Sarah Wilson and Iain MacLellan of Nova Scotia and Derrick Knill and Ally Spielmacher of Ontario.
Here is some information about why Cassie Allen made the cut. She has been a member of Prescott County 4-H in Ontario for 10 years and has completed projects in dairy, horse, dog, vet, square dancing, go for the gold, knitting and scrapbooking.
This fall, she will be beginning her third year of studies in the BSc(Agr.) program at the University of Guelph, majoring in Animal Science. She lives on a dairy farm and is currently working for Wilfred Major Ltd, a Shur-Gain feed company. She has participated in the TD Dairy Classic and the regional 4-H dairy show for many years. Cassie is a member of the University of Guelph judging team as well as the Dairy Science club.
“I believe youth leadership is crucial to the future of agriculture. With the decreasing number of dairy farms and the growing disconnect from producers to consumers, there is an increasing need for a strong public voice for the industry, says Cassie Allen.
To qualify, these 4-H’ers expressed their views on the importance of youth leaders and youth involvement in the dairy industry through a 500-word essay. Thanks to their skills, point of view and determination, they were selected to represent the 4-H community in Canada at the largest dairy cow event in North America, including a tour of key local agricultural attractions.
These young dairy leaders will have the unique opportunity to engage and network with industry leaders, mentors and employers who share the same passion for the dairy industry, further their knowledge and broaden their perspectives through discussions with experts, as well as express their leadership and enthusiasm for the industry being showcased.
‘‘This competition was designed as a unique learning opportunity for 4-H members as well as a platform for them to explore careers and express their leadership skills at an international conference,’’ said Shannon Benner, 4-H Canada CEO. ‘‘This is a prime example of how we empower 4-H youth to be responsible, caring and contributing leaders committed to positively impacting their communities across Canada. Congratulations to all the winners!’’
“As part of our strong values, we pledge to continue to promote best practices in the dairy industry by supporting the next generation of dairy leaders through 4-H Canada,” said Tina Galluccio, Marketing Manager for Armstrong Cheese. “We are pleased to provide the 4-H youth with the opportunity to pursue their passion and empower them to contribute to the dairy industry. Congratulations to all the winners!”
To learn more about the 4-H Canada World Dairy Expo Competition, visit 4-h-canada.ca/world-dairy-expo.
