South Winneshiek FFA Wins 2023 Iowa FFA Dairy Cattle Career Development Event (CDE)

The 2023 Iowa FFA Dairy Cattle Career Development Event (CDE) was held in conjunction with the Youth Dairy Classic in Manchester on Friday, September 8, 2023. Thirty teams and individuals participated in this year’s Career Development Event designed to provide students an opportunity to display their knowledge and skills in the area of dairy cattle selection and management.

The South Winneshiek FFA Chapter located in Calmar was named the Iowa Champion FFA Dairy Cattle Team. Team members included: Mitchell Vagts, Kelsey Timp, Katrina Hageman, and Hanna Vagts. Their agriculture education instructor and FFA advisor is Mrs. Melissa Hageman.

The champion team will compete in the National FFA Dairy Cattle Career Development Event during the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana this October.

The Reserve Champion Team in Dairy Judging was the Decorah FFA Chapter located in Decorah. Team members included: Brody Courtney, Kiele Eberling, Anders Lovstuen, and Creed Monroe. Their agriculture education instructor and FFA advisor is Ms. Joni Bruvold. Kelsey Timp from Calmar was the Champion Individual. Anders Lovstuen from Decorah was the Reserve Champion Individual.

The Iowa FFA Dairy Cattle Career Development Event was made possible with support through the Iowa FFA Foundation and the Youth Dairy Classic Exhibitors.

Jim Hammerand, Austin Knapp and Kurt Wolf were the official judges for the placing classes. Kaleb Kruse selected the cattle for judging classes and acted as reasons taker.

Listed below are the top teams and individuals in the various parts of the career development event.

Top 10 Teams

1 South Winneshiek FFA, Calmar
2 Decorah FFA, Decorah
3 North Fayette Valley FFA, West Union
4 Newton FFA, Newton
5 West Lyon FFA, Inwood
6 Central Community FFA, Elkader
7 Beckman Catholic @ Dyersville
8 West Delaware FFA, Manchester
9 Maquoketa Valley FFA
10 Linn-Mar FFA

Top 10 Individuals

1. Kelsey Timp, South Winneshiek FFA, Calmar
2. Anders Lovstuen, Decorah FFA, Decorah
3. Katrina Hageman, South Winneshiek FFA, Calmar
4. Hanna Vagts, South Winneshiek FFA, Calmar
5. Blake Sparrgrove, North Fayette Valley FFA, West Union
6. Ethan Palmer, Little Switzerland FFA, Waukon
7. Grace Guy, Newton FFA, Newton
8. Nathen Zumbach, Linn-Mar FFA
9. Angie Knapp, West Lyon FFA, Inwood
10. Blake Hunt, Central Community FFA, Elkader

Specialty Areas — Top Team/ Top Individual:

Dairy Cow and Heifer Placing Classes
   Team: MFL MarMac FFA, Monona
   Individual: Abby Fedders, Western Christian FFA, Hull
Oral Reasons
   Team: Decorah FFA, Decorah
   Individual: Anders Lovstuen, Decorah FFA, Decorah
Dairy Production and Management Test
   Team: South Winneshiek FFA, Calmar
   Individual: Kelsey Timp, South Winneshiek FFA, Calmar
Herd Data Evaluation
   Team: South Winneshiek FFA, Calmar
   Individual: Kelsey Timp, South Winneshiek FFA, Calmar

Below is a list of chapters participating by medal group.

Gold Teams (12)
Score Range (1684 to 1446.5)
South Winneshiek FFA, Calmar
Decorah FFA, Decorah
North Fayette Valley FFA, West Union
Newton FFA, Newton
West Lyon FFA, Inwood
Central Community FFA, Elkader
Beckman Catholic, Dyersville
West Delaware FFA, Manchester
Maquoketa Valley FFA
Linn-Mar FFA
Western Christian FFA, Hull
MFL MarMac FFA, Monona

Silver Teams (12)
Score Range (1443 to 1301.5)
Starmont FFA, Arlington
West Dubuque FFA, Epworth
Agri-Power FFA, Eddyville
Benton Community FFA, Van Horne
Little Switzerland FFA, Waukon
Postville FFA, Postville
West Sioux FFA, Hawarden
AGWSR FFA, Ackley
North Scott FFA, Eldridge
Vinton-Shellsburg FFA, Vinton
Clear Creek Amana FFA, Tiffin
Central Springs FFA, Manly

Bronze Teams (6)
Score Range (1256 to 1079)
Dike-New Hartford FFA, Dike
Riceville FFA, Riceville
Carroll Area FFA, Carroll
Independence FFA, Independence
Ballard FFA, Huxley
Wilton FFA, Wilton

The following FFA Members served as show persons during the event and were ranked as follows:

Gold Awards (2)
Bianka Ronnebaum, Maquoketa Valley FFA
Kayden Schnuelle, Postville FFA

Silver Awards (3)
Brianna Pirc, Beckman Catholic, Dyersville
Claire Gaul, Beckman Catholic, Dyersville
Owen Bentley, Postville FFA

Bronze Awards (3)
Parker Lansing, Postville FFA, Postville
Logan Frye, Decorah FFA, Decorah
Adam Kirkestue, Postville FFA

About Iowa FFA Association
The Iowa FFA Association is a youth organization of over 19,200 student members as part of 262 local FFA chapters across Iowa. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. The Iowa FFA Association was organized by delegates from 23 schools at Iowa State College on May 17, 1929 and is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The Iowa Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to local agricultural education programs.

For more, visit the Iowa FFA Association online at IowaFFA.com, on Facebook, and Twitter.