Young dairy experts had the thrill of advancing to two national contests this fall to represent Wisconsin at this year”s National 4-H dairy bowl contests. Vernon, Door, and Richland counties topped the Wisconsin competitions last January, earning them the privilege of competing at the national level.

Vernon County was the Wisconsin Champion Senior 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl Team and advanced to the national contest at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky. in November. Team members included Heather Petersheim, Brian Wendorf, and Derek Petersheim, all from Viroqua, and Ashley Peterson of Genoa. They were coached by Kent Wendorf, also from Viroqua.

“Going to the national contest is a great reward for all of their hard work,” said Wendorf.

At nationals, Vernon County was one of the few teams to earn a bye in the first round due to outstanding scores on the seating exam against almost 20 other states. They then easily defeated North Carolina. Next, they came face to face with Illinois in the quarter-finals and lost in a close match; another loss in the next round eliminated them from the double-elimination tournament.

“It was a really good contest,” said coach Wendorf. “The questions had to do more with day-to-day knowledge and operating a farm. The answers needed to be thought out.”

While in Louisville, the team members also viewed the show cattle and mingled with the other teams at an organized mixer and at their hotel. “They were able to play pool-side games with Minnesota and New York,” Wendorf said.

Door and Richland counties placed second and third respectively at the state contest, earning them tickets to represent Wisconsin at the World Dairy Expo 4-H Dairy Bowl Invitational in October. There were nine teams at this national competition.

The Door County team finished fourth, being defeated by Minnesota twice. Illinois won the contest with Minnesota placing second. Team members included Jacob Brey and Ben Kinnard of Sturgeon Bay, Garrett Rass of Forestville, and Brandon Kruswick of Algoma. Clarice Brey of Sturgeon Bay is the coach.

“Dairy bowl is a great way to meet other people with similar interests,” coach Brey commented. “The kids can build friendships and permanent relationships.”

Richland County placed sixth at the World Dairy Expo contest. Team members included Brad Solchenberger of Cazenovia, Krysty Kepler of Viola, Shiane Lurvey of Lone Rock, and Lance Smithey of Richland Center. Coaching the team was Dana Kepler of Viola.

“You can cram and cram and cram,” coach Kepler laughed, “but it”s a quiz competition. You don”t know what they will ask.”

Both Door and Richland counties did extremely well, especially when considering the age difference. The oldest members on either team were sophomores in high school. “They were going against a lot of college students,” Kepler said.

Some of the coaches realize that it can be tough having the kids keep up with the studying from the state contest in January when the national contests are held in the fall. “I was fortunate to have worked with some really nice kids from our local school,” commented Brey about the Door County team. “It was easier to study with all of them living within 10 miles of each other in our county.”

A dairy quiz bowl involves knowledge of dairy cattle and the dairy industry, but it”s also a speed competition. Team members need to know about the different breeds of cattle, nutrition, genetics, diseases, and herd management practices. They also need to be on top of their game and be the first to ring their buzzer.

Dairy quiz bowl isn”t only for 4-H members; the coaches are quite involved as well. “I know I have learned as much as they have since studying dairy quiz bowl,” admitted Brey.

The Wisconsin 4-H Dairy Endowment Fund and Wisconsin 4-H Foundation sponsor the Wisconsin teams that advance to national 4-H competitive events. The 2006 Wisconsin 4-H Dairy Bowl contest will be held Feb. 4 at the Portage High School. For more information contact Ted Halbach at (608) 263-3305 or e-mail tjhalbach@wisc.edu