The Invitational 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl was the first major youth contest to be held at the 39th Annual North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) in Louisville, Ky. The competition began on Friday evening, November 2 with the written test and the head-to-head competition took place on November 3. Winners were announced at a banquet later that evening. This year marks the 33rd year for the 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl.
While the various breed associations have quiz bowl contests, few rely on the written exam points for individual honors, team seatings and overall contest points. However, the national 4-H contest does just that.
The 50-point short answer test allows individual youth to test their understanding of the dairy industry. The top ten individual test scores receive special recognition at the banquet. This can be especially encouraging for smaller states that have difficulty sending a competitive four-person team. In a contest known for its team dynamics, this format also allows individual recognition as well as team benefits.
The top two individuals winning the written test were from the same county in Wisconsin. A predetermined question broke the tie and gave the top honor to Cody Getschel of Osceola and second to Trent Dado of Amery.
Cody Getschel is a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Madison majoring in Dairy Science. He was a three-sport letterman winner in football, track and basketball in high school. Cody was a member of the state winning Wisconsin Holstein Dairy Bowl team and placed third in the National Dairy Jeopardy contest. He also was on the second place Wisconsin State FFA Dairy Judging team in 2011 and was the Supreme Dairy Showman at the Polk County Fair in 2010. Cody's favorite responsibility on his family's 60-cow Holstein farm is making the mating and breeding decisions, but enjoys milking, too.
Trent Dado has been participating in dairy bowl contests for eight years. He recently was the high individual overall at the National FFA Dairy Cattle Judging Contest and led his team to a second place overall finish. He placed fourth in the National Dairy Jeopardy contest in 2010 and was on the fourth place team at the National Holstein Dairy Bowl Contest in 2012. This high school sophomore plays football, wrestles and plays trombone in the marching band. Trent feeds calves and enjoys fieldwork on his family's 450-cow Registered Holstein herd.
Ironically, these Wisconsin teammates not only tied on the written test at the national 4-H contest, but also on the Wisconsin State Fair's Premier Exhibitor Contest written exam – both with perfect scores.
The top 10 individuals based on test scores were:
1. Cody Getschel, Wisconsin
2. Trent Dado, Wisconsin
3. Erik Shelmidine, New York
4. Rebekah Schonaver, Ohio
5. Noah Ives, New York
6. Cole Leonard, Virginia
7. Alton Rudgers, New York
8. Danielle Keller, New York
9. Meredith Ziller, Illinois
10. Dennisen Nelson, Minnesota
The written test was very valuable in contributing points to the overall standings, as New York had four of the top eight scores and eventually won the contest. Wisconsin, Maine, Virginia and Georgia followed in overall team placings.
Other teams that participated included Alabama, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont and Washington.
Donna M. Amaral-Phillips, University of Kentucky Extension Professor and Extension Dairy Nutritionist, has been the contest superintendent for 24 years and she views the dairy quiz bowl experience as extremely valuable for young people. "Participation in the dairy quiz bowl broadens educational horizons and expands potential industry opportunities for young people who are involved," observed Amaral-Phillips.
Congratulations to all 4-H members who participated and represented your home states well! A blog on the contest's overall results can be found on an earlier HD Notebook blog covering the dairy bowl contest.
Hoard's Dairyman is a sponsor of the National 4-H Dairy Bowl Contest along with the American Dairy Science Association, Down Home Jerseys, Farm Credit Services, National Dairy Shrine, North American International Livestock Exposition and Select Sires, Inc.
In addition, material printed in Hoard's Dairyman is used as source material in the contest. The most recent youth quiz can be found on our website.
