Beloit, Wis --- The Brown Swiss Association has selected four individuals as finalists for the National Junior Youth Achievement Award. The Jr. Achievement award winner is an individual who does outstanding work in the Brown Swiss Breed. The winners will receive their awards at the National Brown Swiss convention in conjunction with the Ayrshire Association, July 2-5 in Buffalo, New York.

Brianna Meyer of Chilton, WI, is the National & District 5 Winner. She is the 14-year-old daughter of Larry & Jennifer Meyer. Her family owns Jenlar Holsteins & Brown Swiss. At her farm, she helps feed calves, water & feed heifers, groom sand in the free stall barn, and work with her show animals. Brianna exhibits at district, state, and national shows. She enjoys attending Canton 5 meetings, Wisconsin State Brown Swiss Convention, and National Brown Swiss Convention. Brianna is involved with her county junior judging team and has participated in area animal science days and the state judging contest.

Carter Settles of Clayton, IN, is the Reserve National & District 4 Winner. He is the 14-year-old son of Gene & Denise Settles. Carter enjoys helping with daily chores which include: milking, feeding, scraping lots, and taking care of the show animals. He shows his Brown Swiss at the local, state, and national levels. Carter is a member of the Indiana Junior Brown Swiss Association, as well as his middle school FFA chapter and Indiana Junior Holstein Association. His hobbies involve collecting antique Allis-Chalmers equipment, football, basketball, and baseball.

Keenan Thygesen of Tunbridge, Vermont, is a District 2 participant. He is the 15-year-old son of Kyle & Jennifer Thygesen. Keenan takes care of his show heifers and chickens, goats, and barn cats. He enjoys clipping and has even started fitting for other people in his area. Kennan exhibits Brown Swiss, Holsteins, Jerseys, Ayrshires, beef, and three breeds of chickens at his local and state fairs. His hobbies include: showing his animals and playing basketball and baseball.

Ellie Albert, of Keyesport, Illinois, is a District 4 participant. She is the 12-year-old daughter of Jason Albert and Melissa Randolp-Albert. Ellie helps feed bottle calves every morning before school, vaccinating calves, baling hay and straw, de-horning, fixing fences, and cleaning bedding. She breaks her heifers to lead and helps to clip wash them in prepping for the fairs. She’s even learning how to do toplines from her dad.  Ellie exhibits her Brown Swiss at the local, state, and national levels. Ellie likes to be in the field and outside, participating in 4-H activities, playing soccer, riding horses, and attending church.