Samantha Tentinger takes top dairy prize

Samantha Tentinger, 13, Remsen, of the Union Livewires 4-H Club, showed the reserve champion heifer in the dairy show, winner of the heifer competition in the Ayshire judging. [Click to enlarge]

The name was a familiar one as the championship awards went out Thursday at the Plymouth County Fair's 4-H dairy show.

Samantha Tentinger, Remsen, a Union Livewires 4-H member, not only exhibited the grand champion dairy heifer but also walked out of the ring as the champion junior dairy showman. Her grand champion heifer also took the purple ribbon in the Jersey division. Samantha, also had the reserve champion heifer in the show, winner of the heifer competition in the Ayshire judging.

Kayla Rust, Hinton, a member of the Lucky Liberty Lopers, showed the champion Milking Shorthorn of the show, her entry in the 2-year cow division.

Caty Schwartz, Le Mars, a Plymouth Pros club member, exibited the champion Brown Swiss of the show and earned top senior showmanship honors.

"Competitions such as this are good for the young people such as these we're seeing out here," show judge Brad Culver, Sheldon, said. "It's an opportunity for them to learn and to be a part of the dairy industry. It can be a good industry for them in the future if they stay interested it."

He continued, "While it's sometimes difficult for the young person to get started, the dairy industry is still full of opportunity for these young people, and they're needed in the industry, and it can be a good future for them."

Culver, involved in an 80-head Holstein operation with his father, added that he sees participation in the 4-H dairy projects such as those in Plymouth County offering valuable educational experiences for club participants.