Kendra Van Order<vanorde4@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension – December 10, 2025
More than 90 Michigan 4-H youth from across the state came together at Michigan State University for the 2025 Michigan 4-H Dairy Days event.
In June and July, Michigan 4-H youth from across the state gathered on the campus of Michigan State University for the 2025 Michigan 4-H Dairy Days event that showcases the knowledge, talent and hard work of dairy youth enthusiasts. These youth competed in several educational events that included dairy showmanship, dairy quiz bowl, dairy management and dairy judging; many youths competed in all four contests. Several youth attended this event for the first time, and each year, there are multiple participants who do not have a dairy cattle background. The event is made possible by Michigan 4-H volunteers and MSU staff who organize the event and provide these opportunities for youth.
2025 was the second year that the Michigan 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl state contest was held the last weekend in June. Dairy industry professionals volunteered as contest judges and moderators for the contest. Seventy-one total youth participated in the contest across the senior, junior and novice divisions. The winning senior team earned the opportunity to compete at the National 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl Contest held during the North American International Livestock Exposition each November.
In the dairy management and dairy judging contests, there were 91 contestants between the two contests. These contests were held back-to-back at the Farm Bureau Pavilion at Michigan State University. The winning senior teams for both of these contests were also invited to compete and represent Michigan 4-H nationally this fall.
The dairy showmanship contest had 47 youth participants, with the Supreme Overall Dairy Showman award winner securing a dairy sale spot in the Michigan Livestock Expo Sale-A-Bration. Joining the Supreme Champion Dairy Showman were the exhibitors of the Supreme Champion Dairy Heifer and the Supreme Champion Dairy Cow.
The Michigan 4-H Dairy Days Awards Celebration saw some exciting changes for 2025. The awards celebration is the final event of the youth portion of the 4-H Dairy Days event. New for this year were a photo backdrop and the recognition of someone who has contributed significantly to the Michigan 4-H Dairy Program within the year. This year’s honoree was Joe Diglio of the Michigan Milk Producers Association. The awards portion of the celebration also recognized the youth who were high achievers in each of the educational contests. The final awards given are the high rank awards for the two highest ranking junior and senior youth participants.
If you are interested in learning more about the Michigan 4-H Youth Dairy program, please visit your local Michigan State University Extension office.
This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).
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Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Quentin Tyler, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.
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