CONTESTS & PROGRAMS —
The Wisconsin Brown Swiss Queen represents the Wisconsin Adult and Junior Brown Swiss Association and promotes the Brown Swiss Breed at the state level. The queen is expected to educate the dairy industry and public on the advantages of the Swiss breed and products produced.
Requirements:
→ The Applicant must be 15-21 years of age and unmarried as of January 1
→ A paid junior member for the past two years
→ Enrolled in 4-H or FFA Brown Swiss project for at least two years
Applications are due February 24th & should be sent to: Heidi Heller at luckymissy86@yahoo.com
To have the queen and princess attend events, contact Junior Advisor Heidi Heller at luckymissy86@yahoo.com or 715-304-9141.
The State Queen Contest
This contest is open to Wisconsin Brown Swiss junior members 9-21 years of age. Named in honor of youth supporter Nelson McCammon, the contest includes arranging a scrapbook of a junior's acheivements, with finalists having the opportunity to speak about their experiences in an interview. Juniors are encouraged to compete until they receive an award as this contest is a great learning opportunity and develops essential communication skills!
Applications are due February 20th & should be sent to: Heidi Heller at luckymissy86@yahoo.com
The Youth Achievement Contest
The Wisconsin Junior Program is open to ages 9-21 and allows juniors to show at canton, state, and national shows and enter the State Bell Ringer contest.
Junior Bellringer Contest
Youth looking for support to purchase their first Brown Swiss should consider applying for the Nelson McCammon Youth Heifer Program offered by the Wisconsin Brown Swiss Association.
“The Nelson McCammon Youth Heifer Program helps youth interested in working with dairy cattle gain hands-on experience with high-quality Registered Brown Swiss, explains committee chairperson Josh Hushon. “By working with Brown Swiss through this program, our hope is that they will learn to appreciate the many outstanding qualities the Brown Swiss breed offers as the well as the camaraderie of those who own them.”
Award recipients will receive a grant for 50% (up to a $1,000 total) towards the purchase price of a Registered Brown Swiss female of any age. The program is intended to run for two years with the applicants being between the ages of 9 and 18 for cows and 9 to 19 for heifers as of January 1. Applicants must be residents of Wisconsin and become members of the Wisconsin Junior and the National Junior Brown Swiss Associations.
Since the project started in 2013, 20 youth have purchased Registered Brown Swiss heifers thanks to the generosity of long-time Brown Swiss breeder and youth supporter Nelson McCammon, who generously donated the funding for the program via his estate when he passed. Mr. McCammon was a mentor to many, and a past winner of the Klussendorf Trophy. Winners are presented at the Wisconsin Brown Swiss Annual Meeting.
Applications are due February 16th & should be sent to: Christopher Voegeli at christophervoegeli@gmail.com
Youth Share-A-Heifer Program
Nelson McCammon Grant Winners
2023 Nelson McCammon Grant Winners
Peyton Voegeli & Danical Stello
2023 Nelson McCammon Grant Winners
Jacob Betley, Eli Staudinger & Raevynn Jackson
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Nelson McCammon was born September 29, 1919 and passed May 21, 2012. He was raised on a diversified dairy farm in southwest Indiana. He graduated from Carlisle High School and attended Purdue University. He earned a Bronze Star during his four years of service in the 38th Infantry Div. of the U.S. Army while stationed in the Pacific, New Guinea, and the Philippine Islands. Nelson worked for the Curtiss Candy Company Dairy in Chicago for seven years. He mainly worked with their show cattle and became Herdsman for their Brown Swiss and Holstein Herds. He later managed Rolling Acres Guernsey’s in Illinois, CB Farms Brown Swiss of Connecticut and Indiana. Nelson was in charge of the show herds for Norvic Farm Brown Swiss in Lake Mills WI, as well as Cold Springs Brown Swiss, Monroe, WI, and Red Brae Brown Swiss, Eagle, WI. He and his wife Lois bought her parents farm in Clarno Township, Monroe, WI which he named Nelsland. There he bred and developed several All American winning Brown Swiss. In 1959, Nelson won the prestigious Klussendorf award which honors ability, character and sportsmanship in the dairy show ring. A mentor to many, Nelson was always willing to help youth interested in Brown Swiss. He spearheaded the Wisconsin Brown Swiss Breeders Share-A-Heifer program which gave WI youth practical experience with cattle. He also annually supported national youth involvement through the Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders Association.
