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 the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. 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 four-year college students from 18 universities competed in the contest.

Team members were Jacob Harbaugh, Marion, Wisc.; Rachel Visser, Hutchinson, Minn.; Evan Hathaway, Barneveld, Wisc.; and Tyler Ratka, Cold Spring, Minn. 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.