MJHA All-Breeds Convention
The 2017 Minnesota Junior All Breeds Convention took place March 24th-26th at the Holiday INN in Owatonna, Minnesota. Youth from across the state of Minnesota gathered on Friday, March 18th for the opening of the annual meeting and convention. The convention was called to order on Friday night with opening activities including supper, mixers, fun icebreakers, and the dairy knowledge bowl test.
Saturday, March 25th was a busy day filled with contests, a farm tour, time in the water park, the annual awards banquet, and a dance. The day started with breakfast and a roll call of the state junior clubs. The juniors then moved into a busy morning of contests by sharing their knowledge of the dairy industry in dairy knowledge bowl, dairy jeopardy, and the prepared public speaking contest. The juniors then enjoyed a luncheon followed by a tour of Balzer Farms. Rick and Scott Balzer shared their experience milking with robots and using a manure separator with the junior members before they headed back to the hotel for free time in the water park, relaxing, and playing games.
After playing in the water park and relaxing, the juniors dressed up for the annual awards banquet held at 6:30 p.m. The juniors were visited by guest speakers Robert and Jeanette Sheehan of Sheeknoll Farms and owners of Sheeknoll Durham Arrow. They also heard some brief remarks on advocating for the dairy industry from the 63rd Princess Kay of The Milky Way, Haley Hinrichs. The juniors were recognized for their hard work with the presentation of awards to the winning production records, dairy jeopardy participants, dairy knowledge bowl teams, and prepared public speaking participants. Five juniors were presented scholarships and Austin Schmitt was recognized as the Distinguished Junior Member. The night was capped off with juniors busting out their best moves on the dance floor.
On Sunday, March 26th, the convention wrapped up with breakfast, the business meeting, election of officers, door prizes, and root beer floats. The 2017-2018 board consists of President Haely Leiding, Vice-President Emily Annexstad, Treasurer Matthias Annexstad, Secretary Sarah Beck, Reporter Lauren Hendel, Historian Kayla Leiding, All-Breeds Liaison Amy-Jo VanderWal, and Directors Leif Annexstad, Katie Thompson, and Tyler Kappers.
The 2016-2017 board would like to thank all the juniors who attended convention and hope they had a fun-filled experience. The 2017-2018 board is excited to prepare another great convention in 2018 and looks forward to seeing everyone at convention next year.
1st place senior Dairy Bowl team: Adam Scapanski, Isaac Nelson, Catherine Gathje, Arnie Gruenes, Jacob Pehrson
2nd Place Senior Dairy Bowl: Nick Seitzer, Leif Annexstad, Matthias Annexstad, Madison Krueger
3rd Place LtoR Emma Friauf, Colton Wingert, Morgan Wingert,, Mckenzie Swanson.
1st Place Junior Dairy Bowl Team: Kendra Waldenberger, Clara Thompson, Sydney Hendel, Ava Kieffer
Second Place Junior Dairy Bowl Team: Jasenko Gavronovic, Andrew Zylstra, Ethan Grams, Josh Nelson
3rd Place Senior Dairy Bowl Team: Tyler Ratka, Megan Ratka, Porter Kuechle, Henry Salzl
DJM recipient Austin Schmitt
DJM Award Recipient Austin Schmitt with sponsors Jan & Jerry Albrecht
Group Picture
High-School Scholarship Recipients: Katie Thompson & Catherine Gathje
Senior Jeopardy Winners: LtoR Austin Schmitt, Catherine Gathje and Lauren Hendel
Intermediate Jeopardy Winners: Isaac Nelson, Jacob Pehrson, Madison Krueger
Junior Jeopardy Contestants: Adhyn Schell, Ava Kieffer, Larkun Kurth, Shelby Swanson
Senior Speech Winners: Catherine Gathje and Sierra Swanson
Intermediate Speech Winners: Isabelle Lindahl, Anna Sachs, Madison Krueger
Junior Speech Winners: LtoR Jerome Stransky, Adhyn Schell, Shelby Swanson
Junior Memorial Scholarship Recipients: Kayla Leiding, Sierra Swanson, Haely Leiding
New Board: Top Row LtoR: Amy-Jo VanderWal, Haely Leiding, Emily Annexstad, Kayla Leiding Front Row: LtoR Matthias Annexstad, Tyler Kappers, Leif Annexstad, Katie Thompson
2016-17 Board Back Row LtoR: Austin Schmitt, Trevor Tuman, Tyler Kappers, James Gathje Front Row LtoR: Lauren Hendel, Kayla Leiding, Emily Annextad, Sarah Beck, Haely Leiding, Amy-Jo VanderWal
Production Award Winners LtoR: Ashely Gruenes, Matthias Annexstad, Emily Annexstad, Leif Annexstad & Nick Seitzer