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UW-Madison Team Takes First At Accelerated Genetics Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest

A team of dairy cattle judges from the University of Wisconsin-Madison took first place at the Accelerated Genetics 8th Annual Midwest Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest, Sept. 16 at Viroqua, Wis. The Badger judges, all students at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, won the contest and had the high individual scorer for the second year in a row.

The UW-Madison Team 1 was high team overall with 2,065 points, and placed first in oral reasons, Ayrshires, Brown Swiss and Milking Shorthorns; second in Holsteins, and third in Guernseys. Team 1 members:

Laurie Winkelman of Watertown, a junior majoring in dairy science and ag journalism: high individual overall with 700 points, and placed first in oral reasons (winning the $100 James Crowley Scholarship), first in Milking Shorthorns, and second in Jerseys.

Josey Morris of Watertown, a junior majoring in dairy science: second high individual overall, and third in Milking Shorthorns, fourth in Ayrshires and sixth in oral reasons.

Laurie Langel of McFarland, a junior majoring in dairy science: fifth high individual overall, and placed second in Milking Shorthorns, third in oral reasons (winning the $50 James Crowley Scholarship), and fourth in Holsteins.

Kristan Noeldner of Loyal, a sophomore majoring in dairy science and agricultural and applied economics.

The UW-Madison Team 2 was sixth high team overall with 1,956 points, and placed second in Brown Swiss and fourth in Ayrshires. Team 2 members:

Sarah Zwald of Hammond, a sophomore majoring in dairy science and ag journalism: ninth high individual overall.

Bryan Kurth of Columbus, a sophomore majoring in dairy science.

Jenny Byl of Grantsburg, a sophomore majoring in dairy science.

Moriah Morris of Amery, a junior majoring in ag journalism: first in Jerseys.

A team of UW-Madison judges placed second overall in the collegiate division at the 33rd All American Dairy Show Invitational Youth Dairy Cattle Judging Contest, Sept. 24 at Harrisburg, Pa. Fourteen national university teams competed.

The Badger team scored 2,104 points, 35 points behind first place-Cornell University and 2 points ahead of third-place Virginia Tech. The team was second in Holsteins, third in oral reasons and Guernseys , and fifth in Brown Swiss and Ayrshires. Team members:

Denise Zygarlicke of Marshfield, a junior majoring in dairy science: third high individual overall.

Laurie Langel of McFarland, a junior majoring in dairy science: ninth high individual overall and second in Holsteins.

Becky Mentink of Waldo, a junior majoring in dairy science.

Nick Sarbacker of Verona, a junior majoring in dairy science.

Ted Halbach, dairy cattle evaluation instructor, and Dave Dickson, emeritus professor of dairy science, coached the teams. “I”ve been very pleased by the collective effort that this group has put into their contest preparation this season,” Halbach said. “They have displayed great enthusiasm, and winning the Accelerated Contest and finishing second at Harrisburg is nice recognition for their work.

“As a teacher, some of the results have been extra satisfying. Bryan Kurth and Moriah Morris went into the Accelerated contest with little or no contest experience at any level. I was really proud of Bryan”s solid 650-point performance, which was good enough for 27th place, and Moriah for her high individual honors in the Jersey breed competition.

“At Harrisburg, we hadn”t been mentioned much in the awards until the top ten individuals were announced and all of a sudden things got interesting,” Halbach says. “Our top two judges were only 6 points behind Virginia Tech”s top two. We needed Becky Mentink or Nick Sarbacker to better Tech”s third judge by that margin, and Becky”s 692 points provided us with what we needed to place second. Our consistency was clearly a key for us.”