Minnesota 4-H Dairy Showcase honors top dairy exhibitors

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Garrett Pearson has applied to Minnesota’s 4-H Dairy Showcase every year since earning his first Minnesota State Fair trip as a sixth grader. He went home empty-handed each time — until now, as he enters his senior year of high school.

Pearson was one of 25 4-H dairy project members in grades 9 through a year post-high school who won between $1,450 and $4,800 in the showcase on the final day of the fair’s 4-H Livestock Encampment Aug. 30 in St. Paul. Another 10 4-H members who have finished grades 6-8 won $500 Rising Star awards. In total, the showcase awarded more than $70,000 to participating youth as it celebrated its 18th year of existence.

“I’ve been trying to get (into the showcase) every year,” Pearson said. “This time I guess I just did better throughout my dairy activities; I practiced for quiz bowl and judging, and just tried my hardest.”

Dairy project members who throw their hat into the ring for the 4-H Dairy Showcase collect points based on participation and success in both those activities, as well as for state fair showmanship and interview contests. Championships with their animals during the show also earn them points, as do written applications.

Pearson was ranked 15th in the showcase and was awarded $2,300 — money he hopes will be useful as he and his sister, Gracelynn, continue to invest in improving the genetics of the cattle they own together. Gracelynn was named a Rising Star, for which she received $500.

The Pearsons are the children of Addison and Ashley Pearson, who milk 100 cows on the family farm near Red Wing. Their grandparents, Eric and Karen, are part of the enterprise Garrett hopes to eventually join.

During the formal showcase presentation at the fair, final placings among the top 25 are kept secret and announced one by one, ending with the top award. Pearson said his parents were on hand for the event.

“They were really proud of us,” he said. “They know how much work we’ve put into this.”

Pearson said he is also proud of his sister for her Rising Star award. The siblings focus their dairy interests on Jerseys, which also make up the bulk of the family herd.

“When I started, I had a thing for Red and Whites and Holsteins, but I switched over to Jerseys; we work on them together,” Pearson said.   

Wabasha County 4-H member Nolan Kruger, the son of Jared and Leanne Kruger, had never applied for a showcase award in spite of being an incoming high school senior like Pearson. Kruger won $1,550 for placing 23rd in the lineup. He plans to add that to a $1,000 Brown Swiss grant to expand his herd of 11 cows and a dozen heifers.

The Krugers milk 350 cows near Wabasha.

As a first-time showcase participant, Kruger was impressed with the program honoring the winners.

“It was pretty cool — dark, spotlights, glitter on the cattle,” he said.

Pearson also had praise for the showcase program.

“It’s a really cool opportunity that dairy rewards kids who try their hardest, that they get the spotlight for all they do,” he said.

Blake Siewert of Lake City, a Wabasha County 4-H member, won the top showcase award in his final year of 4-H participation. Siewert is the son of Kevin and Kay Siewert, who operate a 700-cow dairy.