On Saturday and Sunday, over 300 4-H, post-secondary, and college judging teams traveled southern Wisconsin for judging work-outs prior to the competition being held this Monday morning, September 27. Six Wisconsin dairy producers located close to Madison hosted the practices.
Cozy Nook Farm in Waukesha, Wis., prepared two Brown Swiss classes and the Agnew family of Mapleton Valley Farm, Oconomowoc, presented two classes of Milking Shorthorns. Three Jersey classes were held at Nic-Nat Jerseys/Buck-Shot Jerseys in De Forest, Wis. Their hosts were the Kessenich Family. A short drive to the UW-Madison Emmons Blaine Dairy Cattle Research Center gave the attendees the chance to see the center, as well as judge two classes.
The 2 year old class
Sunday began at the Hoard's Dairyman Farm in Fort Atkinson, Wis. Three classes of Guernsey cows were paraded for the contestants. They also had the opportunity to view the modern facilities that were constructed in 2007. Nasco and the National Dairy Shrine were also tour stops. Stops in Fort Atkinson concluded with a lunch sponsored by Nasco and Hoard's Dairyman. The groups then headed to Whitewater to see Sunshine Genetics, Inc., and judged three classes before heading to Madison to rest for the competition.
Wisconsin contestant taking notes
Team discussion
Cozy Nook Farm in Waukesha, Wis., prepared two Brown Swiss classes and the Agnew family of Mapleton Valley Farm, Oconomowoc, presented two classes of Milking Shorthorns. Three Jersey classes were held at Nic-Nat Jerseys/Buck-Shot Jerseys in De Forest, Wis. Their hosts were the Kessenich Family. A short drive to the UW-Madison Emmons Blaine Dairy Cattle Research Center gave the attendees the chance to see the center, as well as judge two classes.
Sunday began at the Hoard's Dairyman Farm in Fort Atkinson, Wis. Three classes of Guernsey cows were paraded for the contestants. They also had the opportunity to view the modern facilities that were constructed in 2007. Nasco and the National Dairy Shrine were also tour stops. Stops in Fort Atkinson concluded with a lunch sponsored by Nasco and Hoard's Dairyman. The groups then headed to Whitewater to see Sunshine Genetics, Inc., and judged three classes before heading to Madison to rest for the competition.
Thank you to all the people that made their facilities available to give these young adult contestants some valuable practice time before the national contest. We'll be posting results from all three contests late tonight and tomorrow morning. Check www.hoards.com/hoardsatexpo for all the details. Throw down the gauntlet, and let the competitions begin!
