MONROE - Youth from Green County participated in the Southwest District 4-H Dairy Judging Contest on June 26 at the Lafayette County Fairgrounds in Darlington. The event was a culmination of more than three months of weekly practices held at farms throughout Green County.
Dairy youth learned how to evaluate dairy cows and heifers using the Purebred Dairy Cattle Association Dairy Cow Unified Scorecard and place classes using this methodology to rank animals in the four major categories: frame, dairy strength, udder and rear feet and legs. In addition, juniors (youth less than 14 years of age) learned how to answer Type Analysis Questions on each class. Seniors (youth 14 years and older) learned how to give oral reasons on how they placed a particular class.
At the district contest, each individual had eight classes to judge. Each class consisted of four animals to place. Juniors also had to answer 10 TAQs for two of the classes and write reasons as a team for one class. Seniors had to present oral reasons individually on three of the classes.
The junior team placed ninth overall. The top two juniors for Green County were Marissa Vosberg, Young Americans, who placed 13th, and Averey Marean, Cheese County Clovers, who placed 15th overall. Other junior team members were: Kirsten Oliver, Jolly Mixers; Natalie Roe, Washington Center; Sami Holmstrom, New Glarus 4-H; Devin Gilson, York 4-H; and Justin Eastwood, Jolly Mixers. The junior team also received a blue ribbon for their group reasons. The senior team placed fourth overall. Ryan Smith, Washington Center, placed ninth, and Clayton Mahlkuch, Juda Jolly Juniors, placed 11th overall. Cole Mahlkuch, Juda Jolly Juniors, and Katie Raskovic, New Glarus 4-H, were the other senior team members. In the individual breed placing, Ryan Smith, Washington Center, placed fifth in Brown Swiss and Clayton Mahlkuch, Juda Jolly Juniors, placed fifth in Holsteins. In senior reasons, Ryan Smith, Washington Center, placed ninth overall.
In the showmanship competition, Emily Makos, Spring Grove Honest Workers, received a purple ribbon for her outstanding showing of various animals throughout the day for the competition. Caron Breunig was coach of the junior team, and Kelsi Mayer and Mike Marean were coaches of the senior team.
On July 1, the Green County junior livestock judging team competed at the Rock County Area Animal Science Days. The team members were Reece Ruter, Hiawatha 4-H; Breanna Brooks, Clarno 4-H; Katie Nusbaum, Next Generation 4-H; Jackie Nusbaum, Next Generation 4-H; and Katie Brooks, Clarno 4-H. The team was coached by Tim Donovan for the beef unit; Devan Brugger for the swine unit; Danielle Pernot for the sheep unit; and the head coach was Rhonda Alton.
At the event, Reece Rufer, Hiawatha 4-H, was named Top Junior Individual, and Katie Nusbaum, Next Generation 4-H, placed 10th in the Junior Division. The team placed second overall and will be competing at the state competition on July 27.
Area Animal Science Days are designed to give youth an opportunity to learn more about livestock evaluation, while increasing decision-making skills through judging and grading experiences.
For more information on the judging teams, contact Ellen Andrews, 4-H and Youth Development Agent, at 608-328-9440.
Dairy youth learned how to evaluate dairy cows and heifers using the Purebred Dairy Cattle Association Dairy Cow Unified Scorecard and place classes using this methodology to rank animals in the four major categories: frame, dairy strength, udder and rear feet and legs. In addition, juniors (youth less than 14 years of age) learned how to answer Type Analysis Questions on each class. Seniors (youth 14 years and older) learned how to give oral reasons on how they placed a particular class.
At the district contest, each individual had eight classes to judge. Each class consisted of four animals to place. Juniors also had to answer 10 TAQs for two of the classes and write reasons as a team for one class. Seniors had to present oral reasons individually on three of the classes.
The junior team placed ninth overall. The top two juniors for Green County were Marissa Vosberg, Young Americans, who placed 13th, and Averey Marean, Cheese County Clovers, who placed 15th overall. Other junior team members were: Kirsten Oliver, Jolly Mixers; Natalie Roe, Washington Center; Sami Holmstrom, New Glarus 4-H; Devin Gilson, York 4-H; and Justin Eastwood, Jolly Mixers. The junior team also received a blue ribbon for their group reasons. The senior team placed fourth overall. Ryan Smith, Washington Center, placed ninth, and Clayton Mahlkuch, Juda Jolly Juniors, placed 11th overall. Cole Mahlkuch, Juda Jolly Juniors, and Katie Raskovic, New Glarus 4-H, were the other senior team members. In the individual breed placing, Ryan Smith, Washington Center, placed fifth in Brown Swiss and Clayton Mahlkuch, Juda Jolly Juniors, placed fifth in Holsteins. In senior reasons, Ryan Smith, Washington Center, placed ninth overall.
In the showmanship competition, Emily Makos, Spring Grove Honest Workers, received a purple ribbon for her outstanding showing of various animals throughout the day for the competition. Caron Breunig was coach of the junior team, and Kelsi Mayer and Mike Marean were coaches of the senior team.
On July 1, the Green County junior livestock judging team competed at the Rock County Area Animal Science Days. The team members were Reece Ruter, Hiawatha 4-H; Breanna Brooks, Clarno 4-H; Katie Nusbaum, Next Generation 4-H; Jackie Nusbaum, Next Generation 4-H; and Katie Brooks, Clarno 4-H. The team was coached by Tim Donovan for the beef unit; Devan Brugger for the swine unit; Danielle Pernot for the sheep unit; and the head coach was Rhonda Alton.
At the event, Reece Rufer, Hiawatha 4-H, was named Top Junior Individual, and Katie Nusbaum, Next Generation 4-H, placed 10th in the Junior Division. The team placed second overall and will be competing at the state competition on July 27.
Area Animal Science Days are designed to give youth an opportunity to learn more about livestock evaluation, while increasing decision-making skills through judging and grading experiences.
For more information on the judging teams, contact Ellen Andrews, 4-H and Youth Development Agent, at 608-328-9440.