Waukon, Lansing FFA chapters claim high finishes in Tri-State Ag & Dairy Expo competitions

More than 470 FFA members from 39 Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin high schools participated in the annual Tri-State Ag & Dairy Expo held Thursday, September 14 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 Little Switzerland FFA chapter at Waukon High School was named the champion dairy products judging team. Team members included Caleb Helgerson, Ethan Gibbs, Kendra Gibbs and Olivia Marti. Ethan Gibbs was also named the high-scoring individual of the dairy products contest, and Olivia Marti was the runner-up finisher in that competition.

Anissa Stanley, a member of the Lansing FFA Chapter at Kee High School, was a fourth-place individual finisher in that dairy products judging competition.

North Fayette Valley FFA was named the champion dairy judging team with members including Brock Soppe, Blake Sparrgrove and Alexis Oakland. Aden Kruse of Beckman Catholic High School in Dyersville was the high-scoring individual of the contest.

West Central FFA topped the non-reasons dairy judging contest with team members including Clara Miller, Emma Streif and Taylor Teague. Taylor Teague was also named the high-scoring individual of the non-reasons contest.

In addition to the contests, the expo offered educational sessions on agriculture topics including Iowa State University’s biosecurity trailer, Hoard’s Dairyman judging and a grain bin rescue demonstration with the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety. The Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) dairy science and agriculture students helped with the preparation of cattle for the dairy cattle judging contests.