BREEDER OF THE FUTURE AWARD WINNERS

Breeder Of The Future Boy

Sixteen year old Matthew Pacheco of Los Banos, CA, is the 2023 Breeder of the Future Boy. Matthew has been a member of the Merced County Holstein Association for the last 4 years.

As a member of the Los Banos Community 4-H club, Matthew has received both his Bronze and Silver Stars and received the Lloyd Cotta Memorial Award for Outstanding-Most Deserving 2nd Year Dairy Exhibitor. Matthew is also active with the Los Banos FFA Chapter, where he has received Proficiency Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Dairy Production and Dairy Judging as well as Ag Mechanics. He also attended the National FFA Convention as a Delegate.

Ryan currently has 113 dairy animals, with 36 of them Registered Holsteins. 74 of these animals are producing age, and his herd has an average milk production over 23,000 lbs. Matthew has participated in local and state Showmanship contests for the last two years with great success. He was the winning Junior showman at the 2021 State Holstein Show, Champion Sophomore Showman at the 2022 Merced County Spring Fair and Champion Dairy Showman Overall at the May Day Livestock Expo. “I have had great success in multiple showmanship classes with my heifer Raven, who I purchased as a calf and trained diligently. She has been a great heifer and now that she has calved, I look forward to continuing my work with her as a cow. I hope to continue to find lots of success with her,” noted Matthew in his award application.

Beyond the show ring, Matthew is also an accomplished Dairy Judge. Most recently, he was high FFA individual at the 2023 Western Classic

Young Breeder Of The Future Girl

This year’s Breeder of the Future Girl is 12-year-old Caroline Vieira. Caroline comes from Stockton, CA, and has been a member of the Farmington 4-H Club for four years. Caroline has recently served as the Farmington 4-H Reporter, and will be serving as Secretary this year. Caroline has been very successful at the San Joaquin Ag Fest in Stockton, CA. She has accomplished titles at Ag Fest including Advanced Showman Champion, Junior Champion Registered Holstein, Reserve Junior Champion Registered Holstein, and Supreme Champion Registered Bull. Caroline has also placed well at both the Western Dairy Showcase and the California State Fair in showmanship. Caroline has showcased her skills outside of the ring by placing 4th in the Novice Dairy Judging Division at the California State Show.

“I have enjoyed showing throughout California and getting a chance to exhibit registered heifers that I have purchased to start my herd.”

Caroline also balances her life on the farm with school, church, and dance. She is part of the confirmation program, has completed the CCD Faith in Formation program, and volunteers weekly by helping

Judging Contest. He was also the High Individual at the 2022 California State Show judging contest and placed 3rd at the Fresno State contest. Matthew also participates in multiple other extra-curricular activities such as shooting sports, community service, welding, beef projects, and market goats through the Los Banos 4-H and FFA, and is an accomplished student in the classroom. Matthew helps on the farm by feeding calves, cleaning stalls, pushing up feed, and helping other employees when needed. Growing up, he began purchasing animals to show with the help of his parents. Matthew’s herd has grown over the years as he has practiced perfecting the diets of his animals, and helped make breeding decisions. Matthew helps on the farm by feeding calves, cleaning stalls, pushing up feed, and helping other employees when needed. “I feed accordingly to help grow and raise the most desirable show animals I can,” Matthew says. After high school, Matthew plans on attending college, majoring in Agriculture.

“I would not be the person I am without the influence dairy has had on me.” first graders with their classwork. Caroline started her herd with the help of her parents by purchasing her first holstein heifer, STJOR Rager Keri 8387 in 2021. Since then, Keri has had her first calf, giving Caroline her first home-bred heifer, Miss Dodge Kora. Caroline and her parents have purchased several more animals for her to show and grow her herd. Caroline helps on the farm by feeding calves, moving cows, milking, and much more. Caroline proves that she is passionate about the dairy industry and the Holstein breed.

“I love teaching people more about the dairy breed, and expressing all the great that comes with the breed as well.”