Penn State's Dairy Judging Team Successfully Competes in Collegiate Contest

Janelle Hartzell, Slippery Rock, won the reasons contest at the 90th Intercollegiate Dairy Judging Contest held as part of the World Dairy Expo in Madison, WI, helping lead Penn State's Dairy Judging team to a fourth place finish overall and a second place in reasons. She was also fourth high individual. Logan Horst, Chambersburg, placed fourth in reasons and was fifth high individual. Other team members were Joseph Leslie, Connoquenessing , and Benjamin Cashell, Chambersburg. They were coached by Dale Olver, Instructor of Dairy and Animal Science. Nineteen teams competed.

In other results from the National Intercollegiate Contest, Penn State was high team in Red and Whites and Brown Swiss, placed third in Holsteins, and ranked fifth in Ayrshires. Horst was high individual for Red and Whites, Ayrshires, and Guernseys, and he placed seventh in Brown Swiss. Hartzell placed third in Milking Shorthorns, fourth in Jerseys, ninth in Ayrshires, and tenth in Red and Whites.

Earlier in September, the Penn State team was second at the Eastern States Exposition competition in Massachusetts. They placed first in Jerseys, second in Milking Shorthorns, and fifth in Ayrshires, Holsteins, and Brown Swiss. Leslie placed third overall, second in Jerseys, Milking Shorthorns, and third in the reasons competition. Horst was sixth overall, and in Jerseys, and fourth in Milking Shorthorns. Hartzell was seventh overall, second in Ayrshires, fourth in reasons, and fifth in Milking Shorthorns.

At the All American Dairy Show in Harrisburg, the Penn State team placed third. They were third high team for Holsteins and Brown Swiss and fourth for Jerseys. Leslie was second high individual overall and placed second in Holsteins, sixth in Jerseys, and seventh in Guernseys. Horst placed tenth in Swiss, and Cashell placed tenth in Ayrshires and Holsteins.

Dr. Terry Etherton, Head of the Department of Dairy and Animal Science, said, "I congratulate the team for their strong showing throughout the fall contest season. Their experiences on the judging team are extremely valuable for honing their decision-making skills and their ability to communicate effectively. We are very proud of our students' achievements."