Winning the National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest is no minor accomplishment. It requires accuracy, perseverance, and a thorough grasp of dairy animals. So, how did the University of Minnesota take the #1 rank for two years? Let’s dig in.
A fantastic team effort and good leadership are at the core of their win. Megan Meyer, Sarah Hagenow, and Megan Ratka demonstrated excellent technical knowledge and reasoning abilities. This dynamic trio, taught by Dr. Les Hansen, Issac Haagen, Eric Houdek, and Gabriella Houdek, secured first place with a score of 2,530, topping both overall ranking and reasoning.
“Winning this renowned event twice a row is a dream come true. “Our team worked tirelessly, and our coaches’ support was unparalleled,” Megan Meyer remarked, reflecting on the extraordinary feat.
Given the level of competition, their feat is even more astounding. The University of Minnesota left heavyweights like the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Iowa State University in their wake, finishing second and third, respectively. Have you ever wondered what makes such teams successful?
In-depth preparation: These teams go above and beyond to study breed features and analyze milk production qualities.
Strategic teamwork is defined by individual brilliance and how effectively team members complement one another’s talents.
Expert Coaching: Experienced coaches provide vital insights and tactics developed over years of experience in dairy cow judging.
Amidst all this, the University of Minnesota has established a high standard. So, how does this affect future participants?
The University of Minnesota’s repeat triumph in the National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest is more than an honor. It emphasizes the need for rigorous training, excellent coaching, and cohesive cooperation to attain success. As dairy experts, we can learn a lot from this feat.
Top Ten Teams – Overall:
1. University of Minnesota, 2,530, team members: Sarah Hagenow, Megan Ratka, and Megan Meyer coached by Dr. Les Hansen, Isaac Haagen, Eric Houdek, and Gabriella Houdek
2. University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2,508, team members: Kylie Konyn, Natalie Roe, Emma Vos, and Emma Dorshorst coached by Brian Kelroy and Trent Olson
3. Iowa State University, 2,494, team members: Naomi Scott, Irene Nielsen, Louis Hamlett, and Raegan Kime coached by Christen Burgett and Mary Fliehler
4. Purdue University, 2,477, team members: Evan Coblentz, Morgan Stone, Cade Ziegler, and Jackie Mudd coached by Brian Engleking
5. University of Wisconsin-River Falls, 2,462, team members: Sophie Larson, Audrey Piel, Joe Schuh, and Brianna Paye coached by Mary Holle
6. The Ohio State University, 2,456, team members: Cole Pond, Rachel Sherman, Whitney Yerina, and Brady McCumons coached by Bonnie Ayars and Sarah Thomas
7. Pennsylvania State University, 2,449, team members: Emory Bewley, Calvin Dechow, Jessica Fleisher, and Hannah Mansfield coached by Dale Olver
8. Colorado State University, 2,432, team members: Kaylee Richards, Rhyse Campion, Aidan Champagne, and Kayla Larkin coached by Joshua Docheff
9. Michigan State University, 2,430, team members: Elizabeth Hyman, Sadie Brearley, Rhianna Bruursema, and Clea Moore coached by Dr. Joe Domecq, Lynn Olthof, and Sarah Black
10. Cornell University, 2,420, team members: Aidan Ainslie, Carter Hoffman, Caroline Kirby, and Miranda Nickerson coached by Kevin Ziemba
Top Ten Individuals:
1. Kylie Konyn, 861, University of Wisconsin-Madison
2. Naomi Scott, 861, Iowa State University
3. Evan Coblentz, 850, Purdue University
4. Megan Meyer, 850, University of Minnesota
5. Sarah Hagenow, 843, University of Minnesota
6. Megan Ratka, 837, University of Minnesota
7. Joe Schuh, 833, University of Wisconsin – River Falls
8. Aidan Ainslie, 833, Cornell University
9. Cole Pond, 830, The Ohio State University
10. Elizabeth Hyman, 829, Michigan State University
Top Ten Teams – Reasons:
1. University of Minnesota, 845, team members: Sarah Hagenow, Megan Ratka, and Megan Meyer coached by Dr. Les Hansen, Isaac Haagen, Eric Houdek, and Gabriella Houdek
2. University of Wisconsin-Madison, 835, team members: Kylie Konyn, Natalie Roe, Emma Vos, and Emma Dorshorst coached by Brian Kelroy and Trent Olson
3. Pennsylvania State University, 797, team members: Emory Bewley, Calvin Dechow, Jessica Fleisher, and Hannah Mansfield coached by Dale Olver
4. Purdue University, 796, team members: Evan Coblentz, Morgan Stone, Cade Ziegler, and Jackie Mudd coached by Brian Engleking
5. Iowa State University, 794, team members: Naomi Scott, Irene Nielsen, Louis Hamlett, and Raegan Kime coached by Christen Burgett and Mary Fliehler
6. Cornell University, 784, team members: Aidan Ainslie, Carter Hoffman, Caroline Kirby, and Miranda Nickerson coached by Kevin Ziemba
7. The Ohio State University, 781, team members: Cole Pond, Rachel Sherman, Whitney Yerina, and Brady McCumons coached by Bonnie Ayars and Sarah Thomas
8. University of Wisconsin-River Falls, 774, team members: Sophie Larson, Audrey Piel, Joe Schuh, and Brianna Paye coached by Mary Holle
9. Colorado State University, 770, team members: Kaylee Richards, Rhyse Campion, Aidan Champagne, and Kayla Larkin coached by Joshua Docheff
10. North Dakota State University, 769, team members: Morgan Matheson, Rachel Scott, Reanna Schmidt, and Peter Doroff coached by Todd Molden
Top Ten Individuals – Reasons:
1. Kylie Konyn, 283, University of Wisconsin-Madison
2. Evan Coblentz, 283, Purdue University
3. Megan Meyer, 282, University of Minnesota
4. Sarah Hagenow, 282, University of Minnesota
5. Megan Ratka, 281, University of Minnesota
6. Naomi Scott, 278, Iowa State University
7. Natalie Roe, 277, University of Wisconsin-Madison
8. Emma Vos, 275, University of Wisconsin-Madison
9. Emory Bewley, 274, Pennsylvania State University
10. Joe Schuh, 272, University of Wisconsin-River Falls
