Allamakee County youth compete in State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest, Junior Division Team is crowned Overall Champion

Allamakee County had eight 4-H’ers represented at the State 4-H Dairy Judging contest held at the Iowa State Fair Wednesday, August 7 in Des Moines. They made up two teams, one in the Junior Division and one in the Senior Division.

In dairy judging, youth evaluate classes of dairy cows and heifers and are then asked to defend their placings through oral reasoning. Youth learn the dairy cow unified scorecard and major breakdowns, anatomy of the dairy cow, along with dairy judging terminology.

The following youth participated in the 2024 Dairy Judging contest: Zach Danhof, Brielle Gavin, Naomi Palmer, Sophia Palmer and Kendyl Wedo in the Junior Division, and Landon Guese, Ethan Palmer and Norah Palmer in the Senior Division. The 2024 Allamakee County Dairy Judging teams were coached by Jason Danhof and Lars Sivesind.

The Allamakee County Junior Dairy Judging Team was crowned the first-place team Overall and second-place team in Reasons. The Junior Division contest involved 19 youth representing the Iowa counties of Allamakee, Delaware, Fayette, and Winneshiek.

The team placed first in the Brown Swiss, Jersey, and Milking Shorthorn divisions, second in the Guernsey and Holstein divisions, and third in the Ayrshire division. Team individual highlights included Zach Danhof placing third overall, second in reasons, second in Ayrshire, eighth in Brown Swiss, 12th in Guernsey and Holstein, and first in Jersey and Milking Shorthorn. Brielle Gavin placed first overall, sixth in reasons, seventh in Ayrshire, first in Brown Swiss, eighth in Guernsey, third in Holstein and Jersey, and second in Milking Shorthorn. Naomi Palmer placed 17th overall, 13th in reasons, ninth in Ayrshire, fourth in Brown Swiss and Guernsey, 10th in Holstein, 11th in Jersey, and seventh in Milking Shorthorn. Sophia Palmer placed ninth overall, ninth in reasons, 16th in Ayrshire, fifth in Brown Swiss and Milking Shorthorn, ninth in Guernsey, eighth in Holstein, and 17th in Jersey. Kendyl Wedo placed fifth overall, 12th in reasons, 10th in Ayrshire; third in Brown Swiss, seventh in Guernsey and Holstein, 14th in Jersey, and sixth in Milking Shorthorn.

Allamakee’s Senior Dairy Judging Team placed fifth as a team Overall and sixth as a team in Reasons. The Senior Division had 25 youth representing Allamakee, Delaware, Fayette, and Winneshiek counties.

Landon Guese placed 11th overall, 18th in reasons, 14th in Ayrshire, 19th in Brown Swiss, 17th in Guernsey, seventh in Holstein, fifth in Jersey, and 11th in Milking Shorthorn. Ethan Palmer placed seventh overall, fourth in reasons, 21st in Ayrshire, 10th in Brown Swiss, seventh in Guernsey, first in Holstein, 10th in Jersey, and second in Milking Shorthorn. Norah Palmer placed 17th overall, 22nd in reasons, 22nd in Ayrshire, eighth in Brown Swiss, 16th in Guernsey, 19th in Holstein and Milking Shorthorn, and 18th in Jerseys.

The dairy judging teams would like to express their appreciation to the numerous dairy farmers across northeast Iowa who allowed them to host practices on their farms while evaluating their cattle. Appreciation also goes out to Allamakee County Dairy Judging coaches Jason Danhof and Lars Sivesind for arranging practices, chaperoning youth at the State Contest, fostering a safe and welcome learning environment, and for providing encouragement to each youth participant.