On Saturday, September 26, Jacob Harbaugh, Rachel Visser, Evan Hathaway, and Tyler Ratka placed 1st overall at the National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin.
Last year, Minnesota’s team made history by becoming the first university to win the contest three years in a row. This year's team extended the milestone, placing 1st for the fourth consecutive year. The team finished 1st overall, 1st in oral reasons, and all four individuals in the top 13 for reasons. Congratulations to the team and coaches on another successful year and historic accomplishment!
Detailed results are as follows.
1st Team Overall (by a 41-point margin)
1st team oral reasons
1st team placings
1st team Brown Swiss
1st team Jersey
1st team Milking Shorthorn
2nd team Guernsey
5th team Holstein
Individually (of 64 contestants)
Jacob Harbaugh (Marion, WI) - 1st overall, 1st reasons, 3rd Guernsey, 6th Jersey
Rachel Visser (Hutchinson, MN) - 4th overall, 2nd reasons, 4th Milking Shorthorn, 6th Holstein
Evan Hathaway (Barneveld, WI) - 9th overall, 11th reasons, 1st Brown Swiss, 3rd Milking Shorthorn
Tyler Ratka (Cold Spring, MN) - 13th reasons, 5th Red & White, 10th Ayrshire
Top 5 Teams
1. Minnesota (2496 points)
2. Iowa State (2455)
3. Ohio State (2449)
4. Penn State (2435)
5. UW-River Falls (2429)
Coaches: Dr. Les Hansen, Dr. Isaac Haagen, and alumni Eric & Gabriella Houdek