The 50th annual World Dairy Expo is filled with special celebrations of all kinds, but this year’s event began, as always, with its annual dairy judging competitions. The 2016 Expo brought 29 4-H teams, 12 Post-Secondary teams and 19 Intercollegiate teams to the show ring in Madison, Wisconsin, where participants competed for both team and individual honors.
The University of Minnesota clinched the top honors for the second year in a row in the National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Contest, with the first place overall team score and the second place team score in reasons. The team was made up of students Dane Thompson, who also walked away with the second place overall individual title, Crystal Siemers-Peterson, Ethan Dado, and Gabriella Sorg. They were coached by Dr. Les Hansen, Scot Ellinghuysen, and Alicia Thurk.
Hear from the Winning Collegiate team in their interview with Lizzy:
University of Minnesota Dairy Judging Team
The University of Wisconsin-Madison followed Minnesota in the Intercollegiate competition with a first place in team reasons and the second place honors in overall team scores, and UW Team member Sara Harn clinched the first place spot in overall individual competition.
Listen to Jamie’s interview with Sara Harn here:
Interview with Sara Harn, UW Madison Dairy Judging Team
Northern Iowa Community College captured top honors with the overall team title and the second place score in team reasons at the International Post-Secondary Dairy Cattle Judging Contest. Team member Aaron Houdek was a standout in competition, also earning the second place overall individual award and the fourth place individual award in reasons. Team members also includes Carley Vinklemeier, Ellies Frank, and Chelsey Jensen.
Hear more from the Post-Secondary team winners in their interview with Jamie here:
Northern Iowa Community College Dairy Judging Team
Minnesota also took home the top honors in the National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest, with the Wisconsin team taking home second place honors. Minnesota team members included Clint Irrthum, Emily Benrud, Ben Thompson, and Tess Hokanson. The team finished second in reasons.
View and download photos from the event here: 2016 World Dairy Expo Photo Album
