Dodge County tops 2004 state 4-H Dairy Judging Contest

Dodge County won the State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest held Aug. 11 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 Grant County placed third. Grant County also earned the opportunity to compete at the Pennsylvania All-American Youth Dairy Judging Contest in Harrisburg, Pa.

The first place Dodge County Team. Front Row (L to R): Coach John Powers, Linda Behling, Shelly Bohn, Nicole Hosto, dairy youth programs assistant. Back Row (L to R): Coach Kevin Jorgensen, BJ Nehls, Melanie Blank, Ted Halbach, UW Dairy Youth Specialist. Not pictured: Coaches Christa and Todd Wendorf.

The second place Dane County Team. Back Row (L to R): Coach Mitch Bruenig, Vicki Cooper, Joe Sarbacker, Coach Cheryl Marti, Ted Halbach, UW Dairy Youth Specialist. Front Row (L to R): Nicole Hosto, dairy youth programs assistant, Ben Sarbacker, Dan Ziegler.

The third place Grant County Team. Left to Right: Nicole Hosto, dairy youth programs assistant, Coach Andy Butles, Coach Joan Mueller, Mike Maier, Heather Scanlan, Craig Pagenkopf, Becky Martin, Ted Halbach, UW Dairy Youth Specialist.

The top five individuals in the contest. Left to Right: Nicole Hosto, dairy youth programs assistant, Vicki Cooper (Dane County), Nicki Kessenich (Columbia County), Shelly Bohn (Dodge County), Becky Martin (Grant County), Linda Behling (Dodge County), Ted Halbach, UW Dairy Youth Specialist.

Wisconsin's team for the NAILE contest in Louisville, Kentucky. Left to Right: Nicole Hosto, dairy youth programs assistant, Grady Wubbenhorst (Vernon County), Dan Ziegler (Dane County), Vicki Cooper (Dane County), Nicki Kessenich (Columbia County), Ted Halbach, UW Dairy Youth Specialist.

“Typically, the second place team would represent Wisconsin at the Pennsylvania All-American Contest, but Dane County participated there last year. Therefore, this year Grant County will be Wisconsin’s representative,” explained contest coordinator Ted Halbach, UW-Madison extension dairy youth specialist.

Linda Behling of Dodge Country and Becky Martin of Grant County finished 1-2 in the overall individual competition. Shelly Bohn of Dodge County captured first in the oral reasons portion of the contest and was third overall. The other top ten individuals included: Nikki Kesenich, Columbia County; Vickie Cooper, Dane County; Melanie Blank, Dodge County; Dan Ziegler, Dane County; Grady Wubbenhorst, Vernon County; Daniel Walker, Columbia County; and Chrissy Wendorf, Vernon County.

Dodge County was also the high team in oral reasons, followed by Dane County.

A team consisting of Nikki Kesenich of Columbia County, Vickie Cooper of Dane County, Dan Ziegler of Dane County, and Grady Wubbenhorst of Vernon County will represent Wisconsin at the North American Youth Dairy Judging Contest in Louisville, Ky. These youth earned a place on the team because of their high individual placings in the contest.

Twelve youth also competed in a showmanship contest during the 4-H Dairy Judging Competition. Five youth were recognized because of their superior job of showing: Brian Coyne, Pierce County; Mark Haughian, Barron County; Julie Cooper, Dane County; Lindsey Lepke, Vernon County; and Kyle Natzke, Fond du Lac County.

Several volunteers assisted with this year’s contest. Gerrit DeBruin, Bob Hagenow, Lynn Harbaugh, and Brian Kelroy were the official judges. Nicole Hosto, dairy youth program assistant, helped coordinate classes and organized the reasons portion of the contest. Laura Biesterveld and Annie Hobson scored the contest.

For more information contact Ted Halbach at (608) 235-3305

Written by Nicole Hosto on 8/13/2004