Dairy producers, youth, and allied industry have judged our cover cows in our January 10 to March 10 issues for over eight decades. Rotating five of the seven PDCA breeds each year exposes our readers to the wide array of breeds and herds across North America.

Starting with our January 10 issue, which will be in mailboxes soon, and the subsequent 4 issues, you'll have a chance to test your cow judging knowledge (or guessing ability) against our panel of dairy judging experts.

Your opinions on the correct placings are a great meal-time discussion at the family breakfast table, and interesting lunchroom topic at the office, or conversation starter for an upcoming dairy meeting.

Judge the classes and have some fun seeing how your skill for picking the "prettiest ones" fare. It is all in good fun, but we have cash prizes, too! Enter with your family, coworkers, youth groups, or agricultural boards! We even have an Agricultural-Education division for FFA Advisors, so challenge your local advisor to enter along with his/her chapter.

Entries come from nearly every state, so join one of the greatest traditions in dairy judging! Deadline is March 22, 2012.

If your youth group is not currently receiving the entry booklet, contact judging@hoards.com. Look for five classes in the upcoming issues of Hoard's Dairyman and enter our contest! Entry blanks are in the issues.

If youth are interested in learning more about dairy judging, our bookstore has educational materials. Visit our bookstore and click on youth judging.