Congratulations to the Iowa State University for winning the 17th Annual Accelerated Genetics Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest. Thirteen teams competed to take home the top honors and the coveted Brown Swiss Canton III Traveling Trophy. During the contest each participant placed ten classes and gave five sets of oral reasons. They judged at least one class of each of the following breeds: Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey and Milking Shorthorn.
The Iowa State University team coached by Jessica Tekippe and Lee Kilmer included team members: Megan Kregel, Zach Duetmeyer, Amy Maxwell, and Jessica Peters. Placing Second Overall in the contest was the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, coached by Michael Mee. Team members: Stephanie Aves, Krysty Kepler, and Adam Sonnenburg. And coming in Third Overall was the University of Minnesota, coached by Les Hansen, Scott Ellinghuysen and Alicia Thurk. Team members: Emily Achen, Karen Anderson, Caitlin Durow and Elizabeth Olson.
In the Overall Individual competition a University of Wisconsin-Platteville student, Krysty Kepler, took home the top spot. The other top individuals included. Megan Kregel, second, Iowa State University; Jacob Brey, third, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Julie Cooper, fourth, University of Wisconsin-River Falls; Emily Achen, fifth, University of Minnesota; Caitlin Durow, sixth, University of Minnesota; Paul Lippert, seventh, University of Wisconsin-River Falls; Dan Nicol, eighth, The Ohio State University; Zach Duetmeyer, ninth, Iowa State University; and Stephanie Aves, tenth, University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
The University of Minnesota team won the High Team in Reasons with second place going to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and third place went to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
The Top Three Individuals in Oral Reasons take home a special scholarship from the James Crowley Fund. Placing First in Oral Reasons was Elizabeth Olson, University of Minnesota; Second was awarded to Caitlin Durow, University of Minnesota; and Third was awarded to Chelsea Brander, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Another portion of the Accelerated Genetics Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest was the leadsperson showmanship contest. Every year, the youth of Vernon County assist the contest by leading the cattle–this year 26 youth participated. Placing first in the Junior Division was Ryan Gutenberger, second place was Brianna Hall, and third place was Milcayla Lepke. In the Senior Division, Heidi Petersheim placed first, Thomas Larson placed second, and Arlisa Landis was third. And the overall showmanship winner received a special award in memory of David Larson, who worked very closely with the Vernon County youth and the judging contest. The recipient of the David Larson Memorial Showmanship Award went to Michele Gutenberger.
This contest would not be possible without the tremendous support of the numerous contest and award sponsors. They included: American Guernsey Association, American Jersey Cattle Association, American Milking Shorthorn Society, Ayrshire Breeders Association, Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders Association, Fort Dodge Animal Health, Connie Schmelzer, American Printing Co./Schumann Printers, Inc., Holstein Association USA, James W. Crowley Fund, Merial Ltd., Milk Products, Inc., Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Sci-Tech Premixes, Swiss Valley Farms, The Baraboo National Bank, The State Bank of Viroqua, Vernon County Agricultural Society, Vernon County Junior and Open Dairy Exhibitors, Village Market, the Wisconsin Brown Swiss Canton III, Star Blends, Chart Industries, Hampel Corporation, Boehringer-Ingelhiem and Accelerated Genetics.
Source: Accelerated Genetics
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