WAUPUN, Wis. and LANSING, Mich. — Three young college students from Michigan State University took home all the big awards on Sunday at the Accelerated Genetics Dairy Cattle Judging Contest Hosted by CentralStar in Viroqua, Wis., during the Vernon County Fair.
Madeline Meyer, Cameron Cook, and Allison Schafer, all from Michigan State University, walked away with first, second, and third, respectively, in individual reasons and was the first-place reasons team. Schaefer and Cook won first and second in overall individuals and the three ladies, together, won overall team. The Michigan State team is coached by Sarah Black and Joe Domecq.
Breed-category winners were announced for Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey, and milking shorthorn. Cook won Guernsey high individual, and Emily Annexstad, University of Minnesota, won Holstein high individual. Cook also stood on top for the Jersey breed, and Schafer achieved high individual for milking shorthorn. Michigan State won high team for the Guernsey and milking shorthorn breeds; the University of Minnesota-St. Paul “team maroon” took home this title for Holsteins; and Iowa State “team red” won with the Jersey breed.
Ten different colleges and technical schools from throughout the United States were represented at the contest, with some bringing multiple teams. Those attending included Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Michigan State University, Northeast Iowa Community College, South Dakota State University, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, University of Illinois, University of Minnesota-St. Paul, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Fox Valley Technical College also brought students to practice their skills as they learn how to judge dairy cattle.
Vernon County dairy youth led cattle for the contest and were judged on their showmanship ability. First place in the junior division was Grace Fremstad, followed by Cooper Rahr and Kate Quackenbush. Emilie Brose won the senior division. Ty Harbaugh and Erin Torgerson were second and third, respectively. The Dave Larson Memorial Showmanship Winner was Karly Anderson.
Event sponsors included CentralStar Cooperative; the Accelerated Genetics brand from Select Sires, Inc.; American Guernsey Association; American Jersey Cattle Association; American Milking Shorthorn Society; Boehringer-Ingelheim; Chart Industries Inc.; Dairy Records Management Systems; Form-A-Feed Inc.; Holstein USA; James W. Crowley Fund; My Brand Promo with Julie Steffeny; Nasco; Star Blends; Trans Ova Genetics; UdderTech®; and the Vernon County Agricultural Society.
The planning committee was comprised of a variety of employees from CentralStar Cooperative and Select Sires Inc.: Jerome Meyer, Jim Galstad, Dori Lichty, Angie Nelson, Amanda Solverson, Peggy Thran, Deb Giese, Carla Stetzer, Rick Williams, Bruce Von Ruden, Chelsea Daines, and Jill Strangstalien.
CentralStar’s goal of enhancing producer profitability through integrated services is fulfilled by incorporating an array of products and services critical to dairy-and-beef-farm prosperity. CentralStar’s product and service offerings include Accelerated Genetics, GenerVations and Select Sires genetics; extensive artificial-insemination (A.I.) technician service; genetic, reproduction, and dairy records consultation; DHI services; diagnostic testing; herd-management products; research and development; and more. CentralStar’s administration and warehouse facilities are located in Lansing, Mich., and Waupun, Wis., with laboratories in Grand Ledge, Mich., and Kaukauna, Wis. For more information, visit CentralStar Cooperative Inc. at www.mycentralstar.com.
— CentralStar
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