News Release

Sunday, September 29, 2024

University of Minnesota Repeats in The National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest

MADISON, WIS. – University of Minnesota finished first among 17 schools in the 103^rd National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest on Sunday, September 29, 2024, at World Dairy Expo^®. The team finished with a score of 2,530 and added to their achievements by also being the high team for reasons. The team included Megan Meyer, Sarah Hagenow, and Megan Ratka and is coached by Dr. Les Hansen, Isaac Haagen, Eric Houdek, and Gabriella Houdek. Megan Meyer and Sarah Hagenow also placed fourth and fifth overall as individuals, respectively. Finishing second and third team overall were University of Wisconsin-Madison and Iowa State University, respectively. Other teams finishing in the top five include Purdue University and University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

Teams and individuals receiving recognition include:

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, Chloe LaCrosse, 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, Chloe LaCrosse, 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. Chloe LaCrosse, 275, University of Wisconsin-Madison
9. Emory Bewley, 274, Pennsylvania State University
10. Joe Schuh, 272, University of Wisconsin-River Falls

The National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest is made possible in part through the generous support of Platinum Level Sponsor, Channel Seed; Silver Sponsors, FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative and Bio-Vet, Inc.; and additional supporters including American Guernsey Association Youth Fund, Ayars Family Farm, Dave Badula, Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders Association, Maureen DeBruin, David P. Dickson Trust, E-Zee Milking Equipment, LLC., Fight Bac, Randy Geiger Memorial Fund, Saloah Hageman, The Hartford Livestock Department, Holstein Association USA, Inc., Judy Majeskie, Maryland Brown Swiss Association, National Dairy Shrine, Select Sires, Inc., Semex/Boviteq, Trans Ova Genetics, Dr. Douglas Waterman, Hoard’s Dairyman, Vita Plus Corporation, STgenetics, and St. Jacobs ABC.

Serving as the meeting place of the global dairy industry, World Dairy Expo is the premier forum for the global dairy community to learn, share, create commerce and showcase competition. The annual event will return to Madison, Wis. October 1-4, 2024, where dairy producers near and far can experience the world’s largest dairy-focused trade show, a world-class dairy cattle show, attend seminars, meetings and presentations highlighting the latest and greatest in the industry and connect with other producers. Download the World Dairy Expo mobile app, visit worlddairyexpo.com or follow WDE on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Spotify, or YouTube for more information.

###