Elmer H. Marth, emeritus professor of food science, bacteriology, and food microbiology and toxicology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has received the Laureate Award from the National Cheese Institute. He was honored for his lifelong dedication to studying and teaching cheese safety.

A team of University of Wisconsin-Madison dairy cattle judges was high team overall at the 2004 Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show -Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest, Jan. 18 at Fort Worth, Texas. The Badger team placed first in oral reasons, Holsteins, Guernseys and Jerseys, and third in Brown Swiss. Eight teams competed.

Nominations are being sought for 2004 Wisconsin Junior State Fair dairy themes. Please submit suggestions to Ted Halbach, University of Wisconsin-Madison extension dairy youth specialist, by March 1, 2004. Last year’s dairy themes were “From Our Place to the Dairy Case” and “Celebrating Family Farms Past, Present and Future.”

The 2004 Wisconsin Dairy Field Representatives Conference will be held Feb. 10-11 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, Madison, Wis.

The Wisconsin Cheese Grading Short Course, an intensive two-day course covering the principles and practices involved in grading natural cheeses, will be held November 5-6 at Babcock Hall on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.

Walworth County won the State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest Aug. 6 at the Wisconsin State Fair, and earned a trip to compete at the National 4-H Contest in Madison during World Dairy Expo. Dane County finished second in the contest and will compete at the Pennsylvania All-American Youth Dairy Judging Contest in Harrisburg, Pa., according to contest coordinator Ted Halbach, UW-Madison extension dairy youth specialist.

Wisconsin dairy youth provided an up-close look at the state’s dairy industry for urban fairgoers at last week’s Wisconsin Junior State Fair. County exhibits featuring top-notch cattle and dairy promotional themes were judged as a part of the herdsmanship competition. Dairy youth exhibitors from 43 Wisconsin counties competed for the title of champion herdsmen.

Six dairy youth received James W. Crowley Leadership Awards at the 2003 Wisconsin State Fair. These youth were rewarded for their outstanding dairy project work. Each award winner received a plaque provided by the James W. Crowley Dairy Management and Extension Fund.

The Marshfield Agricultural Research Station is liquidating its herd of registered Holsteins prior to the move to its new heifer facilities. The herd, about 50 milking cows and 20 bred heifers, will be sold as two units (cows and heifers; no individual animal sales) via sealed bids to the highest bidder.

Outstanding producing ability was recognized in each of the six dairy breed shows at last week’s Wisconsin Junior State Fair. AgSource/CRI awarded an engraved glass milk pitcher to the exhibitor of the cow with the highest actual 305-day combined butterfat and protein production record.