UMN takes third at National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest

October 9, 2019
the dairy judging team stands behind a sign reading "world dairy expo 2019"
Photo caption: Third-place team in the National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest from the University of Minnesota (from left): Eric Houdek, coach; Gabriella Sorg, coach; Tanner Morrison, Kaleb Kruse, Rachel Coyne, Sierra Swanson, Alicia Thurk Hiebert, coach; Les Hansen, coach.

The University of Minnesota placed 3rd overall in the National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest, September 30 at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, WI. The Minnesota team was only five points behind the first team overall (2464 versus 2459 points), and was first in Holstein, second in Ayrshire, second in Brown Swiss, fifth in Guernsey, and fifth in Jersey.    

Individually, Rachel Coyne, Spring Valley, WI, was second overall and Tanner Morrison, Peterson, MN, was third overall. Coyne placed fourth in Jersey, ninth in Ayrshire, and ninth in Brown Swiss, and Morrison was sixth in Holstein. The two other team members were Sierra Swanson, Hutchinson, MN, and Kaleb Kruse, Dyersville, IA.

Coaches for the judging team were Morse Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor-Dairy Cattle Genetics Les Hansen, alumnus Alicia Thurk Hiebert, and graduate students Eric Houdek and Gabriella Sorg.

Team rank was:  1. Ohio State, 2. Penn State, 3. Minnesota, 4. Iowa State, 5. Michigan State, 6. Oklahoma State, 7. University of Wisconsin-Madison, 8. Virginia Tech, 9. Cornell, 10. University of Wisconsin-Platteville, 11. Cal Poly, 12. Aeres-Netherlands, 13. Purdue, 14. Tarleton State, 15. South Dakota State, 16. Kentucky, 17. Kansas State, 18. North Dakota State.