University of Minnesota Wins National Dairy Cattle Judging Contest for Fourth Consecutive Year

The University of Minnesota’s dairy cattle judging team once again placed 1^st overall in the National Intercollegiate Contest held September 26 at World Dairy Expo, Madison, WI.  The margin of victory was a substantial 41 points.  Last year’s win by the University of Minnesota was the first time in history that a university placed 1^st in the national contest three years in a row.  This fourth consecutive win sets a new milestone.  The Minnesota team was also 1^st in oral reasons (15-point margin), 1^st in placings, and 1^st in three breeds – Brown Swiss, Jersey, and Holstein.  Sixty-four 4-year college students from 18 universities competed in the contest.

Team members were Jacob Harbaugh, Marion, WI; Rachel Visser, Hutchinson, MN; Evan Hathaway, Barneveld, WI; and Tyler Ratka, Cold Spring, MN.  Individually, Harbaugh was 1^st overall and 1^st in oral reasons.  Visser was 4^th overall and 2^nd in oral reasons, and Hathaway was 9^th overall and 11^th in oral reasons.

Coaches for the University of Minnesota’s dairy cattle judging program are Dr. Les Hansen, Dr. Isaac Haagen, and alumni Eric and Gabriella Houdek.

Team rank:  1. Minnesota, 2. Iowa State, 3. Ohio State, 4. Penn State, 5. UW-River Falls, 6. Purdue, 7. UW-Madison, 8. Cornell, 9. Florida, 10. Virginia Tech, 11. Kansas State, 12. South Dakota State, 13. UW-Platteville, 14. Michigan State, 15. Aeres University, The Netherlands, 16. Delaware Valley, 17. Illinois, 18. Oklahoma State.