ROCKFORD (WIFR) --The 2010 Superior Young Dairy Producer Award (SYDPA) program was held August 21, at the Illinois State Fair.

Twenty 4-H and/or FFA dairy project members from across Illinois took part in the event. The purpose of the contest 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, emphasizing the youth’s knowledge of the dairy industry, awarded each of the top five overall participants with a $1,000 scholarship.

The 2010 scholarship recipients included Winnebago County 4-H members Haley Lyons of Rockford and Aaron Mitchell of Winnebago. Both are currently students at the University of Illinois. “It is wonderful to see our local 4-Her’s so successful in a statewide competition like this. It serves to inspire our younger members to remain active and to continue to seek to develop their skills,” commented Margaret Larson, U of I Extension County Director.

The $5,000 in scholarships was sponsored by Archer Daniels Midland, Decatur. Individual plaques were awarded to the “top 3” in each phase and the “top 5” overall winners. The Land of Lincoln Purebred Livestock Breeders Association and Illinois State Fair sponsored the plaques. The first phase was a dairy management test relating to dairy nutrition, health, reproduction, milk marketing, and other dairy related information. Lyons and Mitchell were the top two contestants for this phase, leading to their placing in the overall competition.

This year marked the 15th consecutive year for the Superior Young Dairy Producer Award Program, which has provided $75,000 in college scholarships to Illinois dairy youth since its inception. Participants must be 4-H or FFA dairy project members in Illinois. The program is developed and coordinated by Dave Fischer, Retired U of I Extension Dairy Educator.