Amanda Valentine Dennis – Junior Showmanship
Amanda Valentine Dennis of Emmitsburg, Maryland, will judge the Junior Showmanship Contest. Raised on Vales-Pride Farm, operated by her parents Michael and Denise Valentine, she developed a strong interest in herd health and calf raising while exhibiting cattle at local, state, and national levels under the Vales-Pride prefix. A former competitor in the Maryland 4-H Dairy Judging Program, Dennis was part of the winning state team at Louisville in 1997 and the fourth-place team at World Dairy Expo in 1999. She later returned as a coach, guiding Frederick County and Maryland State teams to notable achievements, including a third-place finish at World Dairy Expo in 2018 that earned international judging opportunities in Scotland and Ireland. With extensive judging experience across the Mid-Atlantic and New England, she co-founded the annual “Show Like a Pro” Dairy Workshop to train youth in showmanship. Following a family herd reduction in 2024, the Vales-Pride prefix continues under her uncle’s leadership, while Dennis works for Integrated Agronomics and resides in Keymar, Maryland, with her son, Bryce.
Renee Pierick – Intermediate Showmanship
Renee Pierick of Cleveland, Wi., will place the Intermediate division of the Showmanship Contest. Pierick has served as Assistant Show Manager for Vierra Dairy and Triple-T Holsteins, and as Herdsman at Kash-In Holsteins and Jerseys in Tulare, California. She has worked for esteemed clients such as Spring Valley, Kueffner Holsteins and Jerseys, and Entourage LLR. Over the years, she has been instrumental in developing multiple World Dairy Expo Champions and numerous All-American and All-Canadian winners in Holstein and Jersey breeds.Pierick’s personal achievements include being named the 2024 Ladies Showmanship Winner at the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) and exhibiting the Junior Champion Holstein at the Royal Winter Fair. Her international travels include Australia, Colombia, and New Zealand, and she has judged contests in New Mexico, Ohio, and Iowa. Passionate about the dairy industry, Pierick is committed to mentoring and developing the industry’s future leaders.
Jennifer Charlton – Senior Showmanship
Jennifer Charlton of Brantford, Ontario will serve as the judge for the Senior Showmanship Contest. Charlton operates Charbend Farms in partnership with her father, managing over 400 acres and milking 55 registered Holsteins and Jerseys. In 2004, she won the Intercounty Judging Competition, representing Ontario at World Dairy Expo and later at the European Young Breeders School. Charlton has prepared cattle for shows across Canada, the United States, and Australia, and has judged numerous 4-H, county, and breed shows. Her experience includes officiating Holstein, Jersey, and Brown Swiss competitions. She has judged prestigious events such as the Western Canadian Classic Showmanship (2024), Junior Showmanship at World Dairy Expo (2023), and Jersey Showmanship at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (2023). Dedicated to youth education, Charlton frequently leads clinics and 4-H programs focused on showmanship and clipping skills.