East Central/Select Sires, based in Waupun and serving southern Wisconsin, hosted the 25th anniversary of the Accelerated Genetics and East Central/Select Sires Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest on Sept. 16 in Viroqua, Wis., during the Vernon County Fair.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Team Cardinal was the high team overall. The team’s Dawson Nickels took home high individual overall honors.

UW-Madison Team Cardinal was also the top reasons team. Top individuals for reasons were Dawson Nickels, first; Avery Kotlarczyk, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, second; and Brooke Brantner, UW-River Falls, third.

Breed category winners were announced for Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey and Milking Shorthorn. Emma Gwidt, UW-Madison Team Cardinal, won Guernsey high individual, and Brooke Brantner, UW-River Falls, won Holstein high individual. Dawson Nickels stood on top for the Jersey breed, and Ryann Allison, Kansas State University, achieved high individual for Milking Shorthorn. UW-Madison Team Cardinal won high team for the Guernsey, Holstein and Jersey breeds; the University of Minnesota-St. Paul team won Milking Shorthorn.

Twelve colleges from throughout the U.S. were represented at the contest, with some bringing multiple teams. Those attending for their 25th year included Iowa State University, University of Minnesota-St. Paul and UW-Madison. Other colleges attending this year’s event included California Polytechnic State University, Fox Valley Technical College, Kansas State University, North Dakota State University, Northeast Iowa Community College, Oklahoma State University, South Dakota State University, UW-Platteville and UW-River Falls.

Official judges were Cassie Endres, Waunakee, Wis.; Mike Donnelly, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Dan Sivisend, Waukon, Iowa; Janet Keller, Oregon, Wis.; and Jennifer Clark, La Crosse, Wis.

Vernon County dairy youth led cattle for the contest and were judged on their showmanship ability. First place in the junior division was Brock Hoskins, followed by Eric Torgerson and Gracie Wagemester. Grant Fremstad won the senior division. Hope Petersheim and Karly Anderson were second and third, respectively. The Dave Larson Memorial Showmanship Winner was Gabe Engh.

Event sponsors included East Central/Select Sires, the Accelerated Genetics brand from Select Sires Inc., Activon/Effercept SG Teat Dip, American Guernsey Association, American Jersey Cattle Association, American Milking Shorthorn Society, Chart industries Inc., Form-A-Feed Inc., Holstein USA, James W. Crowley Fund, Lake Prairie Marketing Group with Julie Steffeny, Star Blends, UdderTech,and the Vernon County Agricultural Society.

Source: East Central/Select Sires