Dayne Jantzi, left, and Larsen Swan are pictured at the New York State fair this past summer. The two competed in the dairy bowl and dairy judging competitions this past weekend in Louisville. Submitted photo

Two Chautauqua County 4-H members competed in one of the highest competitions they can qualify for in the dairy bowl and dairy judging.

Dayne Jantzi of Clymer and a member of the Sherman Kountry Kids 4-H club took part over the weekend in the dairy bowl competition as a member of the New York State team. Larsen Swan, a lone 4-H member from Sherman, will be doing the same for the dairy judging competition.

It has been a number of years since a Chautauqua County youth has qualified for the Louisville competition in the dairy bowl. Previous qualifiers included Sarah Bean of Ashville; Robert Cross of Kennedy; and Aron Crowell, originally from South Dayton and who now lives in Ohio.

Jantzi said the dairy bowl competition involves a combination of knowledge and speed while getting asked questions about dairy cows and the dairy industry. Swan said dairy judging is focused on evaluation.

“The major difference between dairy bowl compared to dairy judging is when you compete in dairy bowl it involves lots of memorization of knowledge of dairy cows, diseases, farms, equipment operation, and famous people involved in the dairy industry,” Swan said. “Dairy judging is evaluating and placing cows based on qualities that she possesses and doesn’t possess and how she compares to others in her class. Not only do you have to place them you have to give reasons to defend your placings, whether they are right or wrong.”

To make it to Louisville, Jantzi had to compete in the Western District Competition where he placed first. He then competed at the New York State fair where he placed third and earned a spot on the state team. Swan placed seventh at the state fair for the dairy judging competition and will be going to Louisville with three other team members.

This will be both boys’ first times competing in Louisville, something that they are both very excited about.

“This is a goal I have had during my last eight years in the dairy bowl, and I’ve finally reached it,” Jantzi said. “This is the highest competition for the dairy bowl and you can only go once.”

Similarly, Swan said he never expected to be able to make it this far in dairy judging.

“It means a lot to me,” Swan said. “I have never thought I would ever make it to Louisville or place that high at the New York State fair competition. I watched people from our county and people I knew making it to the national level, which fueled me to try and excel. I always liked dairy judging but I never thought I could make it to a national show.”

Additionally, Swan said for dairy judging there are two other national shows at about the same level as Louisville, the All American Dairy Show and World Dairy Expo. Swan said the World Dairy Expo is the highest of the three. He added that he hoped to potentially make it to these two shows in the coming years.

The Louisville competition lasts for two days in both the dairy bowl and dairy judging. For Jantzi, the competition first requires doing a written test that is worth a maximum of 25 points and then following that he will compete with other state teams.

Swan’s team will be placing classes and giving reasons on those classes. The competition will take place Saturday and an awards banquet will be Sunday morning. Both teams leave a few days before the competition.

Swan said the main goal is to have fun.

“My goal is to just have fun and take the whole experience in,” Swan said. “I can’t wait to see how it feels to judge there and see all of the amazing animals that are going to be there.”

Jantzi said more people should be interested in being a part of 4-H to be a part of competitions like this and everything else 4-H offers.

“4-H should interest more people because it gives you a unique opportunity to meet new people and learn different things,” Jantzi said.

Jantzi’s New York State team won their Nationals competition for the dairy bowl on Saturday.