Young Breeder Award 2025
Jenna Lenhart, Thurmont, MD
Congratulations to Jenna Lenhart, Peach Kist Farm, for receiving the 2025 Brown Swiss Young Breeder Award.
The following is taken from the letter of support submitted by Cynthia Warner, President, MD BS Association:
"Jenna Lenhart, Peach Kist Farm, Thurmont, Maryland, exemplifies the kind of young person needed to advance the goals and interests of the dairy industry for the future! Jenna is an enthusiastic Brown Swiss breeder who has been involved with dairy farming, and registered Brown Swiss for a long time. – and Jenna is taking it to a whole new level from her beginnings!
"Jenna is a busy young mother of two boys– as she balances her Full-time job as a Regional Professional Services Embryologist Manager at Trans Ova Genetics, and also helps on the family farm.
"Jenna has been an extremely active member of the Maryland Brown Swiss Association alongside of her husband, Andrew. Jenna was very active as a Junior on the National Brown Swiss level. She served as the 2007 National Brown Swiss Youth Ambassador, and that same year – was a National Youth Achievement Award Recipient. She was on Pennsylvania Judging teams and went to compete in Harrisburg, Madison, and Louisville. This was a strong foundation for having her name on the National Approved Judges List for Brown Swiss as well as many other shows. She is very well versed and presents reasons very well. This makes her popular as a judge on the big show level and in the Junior Show arena.
"Jenna has exhibited her Brown Swiss on a Local, District, and National level, with several winners earning Bell Ringer awards, and All-American nominations and winners, and her personal best honor – as she received an All-American Nomination in the Best Three Females class in 2024! And who could forget the legendary Peach Kist Total Tango 3E95/95ms, who graced and won many times on the Tanbark Trail—she was such a prominent cow in the Show Ring- in Milking form—and Jenna certainly gives credit to the Rucks family from Florida, and Dale and Deanna Bendig, Pennsylvania, for developing Tango to her fullest potential. Her current herd consists of 35 Brown Swiss with a 24,596m 988f 794p on 21 cows. She sold the High-selling animal, a December calf at the Maryland Brown Swiss Sale this March for $9000- Peach Kist C Tampa ETV which topped the sale!
"Jenna has several leadership roles in the Maryland Brown Swiss Association—and Holstein Association where she is ALL IN – when it comes to the work, the dedication, the hands-on to make the events successful! She is recognized for her many accomplishments in performance and management in Brown Swiss activities, as well as being a leader in school and community activities. She is always willing to help in many dairy-related activities at all levels, particularly in 4-H and youth!
"Jenna has leadership, and will continue to make strong contributions to the Brown Swiss breed."