The 2026 Superior Young Dairy Producer Award program and state 4-H dairy judging contest were held Aug. 22 at the Illinois State Fair. Fourteen 4-H dairy project members from across Illinois participated in the SYDPA program, and 41 youth competed in the dairy judging contest.
The purpose of the event is to create an educational activity that promotes youth development, career development, and personal growth through increased knowledge of the dairy industry. This three-phase competition emphasizes the youth’s knowledge of the dairy industry. The top three overall participants were each awarded a $1,000 scholarship. The scholarships were sponsored by Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. and awarded to:
- Dale Worley, McHenry County
- Kasey Clanton, Bond County
- Emma Meyer, Madison County
Individual banners, sponsored by Land of Lincoln Purebred Livestock Breeders Association and the Illinois State Fair, were awarded to the top three in each phase and the top three overall winners.
The first phase was a dairy management test covering dairy nutrition, health, reproduction, milk marketing, and other dairy-related information. The top three contestants for this phase were:
- Dale Worley, McHenry County
- Owen Gunderson, Stephenson County
- Emma Meyer, Madison County
The second phase was a three-station skill-a-thon on various aspects of the dairy industry. Contestants had to identify dairy feeds, understand herd management data, and identify dairy equipment. The top three contestants in the skill-a-thon were:
- Dale Worley, McHenry County
- Owen Gunderson, Stephenson County
- Kasey Clanton, Bond County
The third phase was a judging contest. The judging phase consisted of animal selection by placing four classes of dairy cows and two classes of heifers. The judging contest is also a standalone contest in which 41 4-H members participated. The top three contestants for this phase were:
- Kasey Clanton, McHenry County
- Elena Olbrich, Effingham County
- Payton Olbrich, McHenry County
Illinois Farm Bureau also provided banners to the top ten juniors and seniors in the dairy judging contest. The top ten juniors were:
- Logan Olbrich, McHenry County
- Ava Jansen, Clinton County
- Ava Meyer, Madison County
- Lyndi Maurer, McLean County
- Dennis Arnold, McHenry County
- Ella Marcoot, Bond County
- Brynlee Nolan, McLean County
- Teagan Burianek, Washington County
- Eli Faber, Livingston County
- Chole Jean Schmidt, Stevenson County
The top ten seniors were:
- Kasey Clanton, Bond County
- Elena Olbrich, McHenry County
- Peyton Olbrich, McHenry County
- Dale Worley, McHenry County
- Kyle Clanton, Bond County
- Pyper Johnston, Kankakee County
- Drew Leuking, Clinton County
- Olliver Shoaf, Effingham County
- Ethan Gunderson, Stevenson County
- Emma Meyer, Madison County
This year marked the 31st consecutive year for the Superior Young Dairy Producer Award program, which has provided $135,000 in college scholarships to Illinois dairy youth since its inception. The program is developed and conducted by Derek Nolan, Illinois Extension's 4-H dairy program coordinator.
Photo Caption: Fourteen Illinois 4-H dairy project members participated in the 2026 Superior Young Dairy Producer Award program held during the Illinois State Fair. The top three award winners, each receiving a $1,000.00 scholarship sponsored by Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc., were (pictured L to R): Dale Worley (McHenry County), Kasey Clanton (Bond County), and Emma Meyer (Madison County).
About Illinois 4-H: Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension, administered through the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Through hands-on learning and life-changing experiences, Illinois 4-H prepares youth to be Beyond Ready — ready for college, career, military service, entrepreneurship, and more. Young people build confidence, leadership, and resilience as they explore interests from agriculture to computer science. Independent research and national surveys confirm the powerful outcomes of 4-H: participants are 40% more likely to pursue a college degree, twice as likely to obtain technical training, and two times more likely to serve in the military. With a legacy of cultivating leaders, Illinois 4-H continues to grow the next generation who are equipped to thrive in life and work today and beyond.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.