Kee, Waukon FFA Chapters among top teams at Tri-State Ag and Dairy Expo

More than 450 FFA members from 35 Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin high schools participated in the annual Tri-State Ag & Dairy Expo held Thursday, September 15 at Iowa’s Dairy Center in Calmar. The expo featured dairy judging and dairy products contests where students enhanced their evaluation skills on dairy cattle and products.

The Lansing FFA Chapter from Kee High School and the Little Switzerland FFA Chapter from Waukon High School each participated in the annual event. Teams and individual members of each chapter placed well in this year’s evaluation skills events.

Lansing FFA was named the champion Dairy Products Judging team. Team members included Kevin Ashbacher, Anissa Stanley and Dustin Stendel. Stanley was also named the high-scoring individual of the dairy products contest and Payton Becker of Lansing FFA was a fourth-place individual placewinner in that Dairy Products competition. Kyle Mauss of the Lansing FFA Chapter was also a third-place finisher in the Dairy Judging without Reasons evaluation skills competition.

The Little Switzerland Chapter at Waukon High School was a second-place finisher in the Dairy Judging with Reasons competition and also placed third in the Dairy Products Judging competition. Kendra Gibbs of the Little Switzerland Chapter was the runner-up individual in that Dairy Products skills event.

North Fayette Valley FFA was named the champion dairy judging team. Klaudia Biel of Fillmore Central FFA was the high-scoring individual of the contest. Denver FFA topped the non-reasons dairy judging contest. Riley Brandt of Denver FFA was named the high-scoring individual of the non-reasons contest.

Additionally, the Tri-State Ag & Dairy Expo presented an annual award in memory of Dennis Rud, a former FFA instructor and longtime employee of Nelson Dairy Consultants. The award is given to an individual who has had a significant role in the success of the expo. The recipient of the annual award was LeRoy Messler, who was recognized for his dedication to the expo.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig was in attendance at this year’s expo, welcoming the students to the event. In addition to the contests, the expo offered seminars on agriculture topics including calf care and dairy advocacy. The Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Dairy Science Club and agriculture students helped with the preparation of cattle for the dairy cattle judging contests.