The Outstanding Dairy Youth Award recognizes dairy youth who have shown exceptional involvement in the dairy project. The annual award is based on the dairy youth activities, leadership, teaching responsibilities, and awards and accomplishments of the recipient. CP Feeds has been a continuous sponsor of this award since its inception in 2015 with the Senior (Grades 12 to 13) Outstanding Dairy Exhibitor receiving $300 and the Junior (Grades 9 to 11) receiving $200. This year’s recipients are Kaylee Mess, Senior Outstanding Dairy Youth Exhibitor, and Sam Mess, Junior Outstanding Dairy Youth Exhibitor, both children of Austin and Deb Mess of Rosendale, WI.

Fifteen-year-old Sam Mess is the Junior Outstanding Dairy Youth Exhibitor award winner. He has been in the dairy project for eight years. On the family farm he helps with milking and mixing feed for the cows and heifers. Mess is an active member of the Fond du Lac County Dairy Project and Jr Holstein Associations, and Laconia FFA where he serves as vice-president. He plans on attending either an agriculture technical college program or UW Farm and Industry Short Course once he graduates and return to the family farm.

The Fond du Lac County Dairy Project provides opportunities for youth to learn about the dairy industry through dairy judging, dairy quiz bowl, and dairy management project and to teach and mentor younger members.