Bechtel Represents Blair County at National 4-H Dairy Conference

A local Cove teen was recently selected to represent Blair County at the National 4-H Dairy Conference in Madison, Wis.

Norah Bechtel, the sixteen-year-old daughter of Jason and Sarah Bechtel of Curryville, attended the four-day conference held September 29 through October 2.

County Extension Offices and 4-H Dairy Clubs can nominate two members to participate in the application process. As a part of that process, Norah completed the necessary paperwork and completed a Zoom interview with a selection panel.

She was one of four 4-H Dairy Members to receive a full scholarship to attend the event. Other attendees included youth from Warren, Perry, and Crawford counties. The PA Dairyman's Association was the major sponsor for the delegates to attend and represent Pennsylvania.

"The first day of the conference we got to know the other kids from across the country as well as a few from Canada," Bechtel said.

They were assigned to a leadership team and given certain responsibilities during the conference, she said.

"I was on the Sponsor Appreciation team, so my role over those four days included sitting at the head table with the guest speakers and then leading the whole group in thanking them for their contribution to the program," Bechtel said.

Day two included a tour of the ABS Global headquarters – a company specializing in dairy reproduction and bovine genetics.

Attendees were able to see some of their top bull sires and learned more about the company's genetic selection process.

That tour was followed by a visit to the Hoard's Dairyman Farm and Publishing Building as well as the National Dairy Shrine.

"At the Hoard's farm, we were taken on a tour showcasing the robotic milking system and their day-to-day operations," she said.

Hoard's magazine is considered by most dairy farmers as the leading dairy farm magazine. Its topics include articles on dairy nutrition, herd health, market trends and futures, and dairy innovation.

The annual Hoard's cow judging contest features five classes of cattle to be evaluated – many 4-H dairy clubs utilize these printed classes to teach the basics of placing dairy cattle and formulating a solid set of reasons to defend your placings.

Day three of the conference featured a visit to STgenetics, another dairy genetics operation. Bechtel said.

"STgenetics was interesting because we were taken through the lab," she said. "It was neat to see the hands-on process in that setting and how it ties together with the decisions that are being made on the dairy farm back home."

That evening, conference goers attended a barbecue and barn dance at Crave Brothers Farm following some educational rotations including Beef Quality Assurance, Dairy Nutrition, Crops, and Vita-Plus.

"The final day was my favorite part because we went to the World Dairy Expo," Bechtel said. "I really like going through the trade center and seeing all the tech and new innovations that are out there. I got to watch some of the Brown Swiss shows and see that parade of champions. It was neat because they showcase the origin of the breed with yodelers and instruments while the cows are circling the arena. Overall, that was the highlight of my trip for sure."

Bechtel is back home in the Cove, staying busy as a student at Central where she plays softball and is in the National Honor Society.

She also serves as one of the Blair County Alternate Dairy Princesses and helps with milking and feeding calves on her grandfather's farm, JoBe Farms.

Bechtel is grateful for the unique opportunity she had.

"This trip opened my eyes to so many new career opportunities available in agriculture," she said. "I'm still not one hundred percent sure what I want to do after high school, but I know I want to stay involved in ag."