The University of Minnesota-Maroon won the top overall team award at the Vernon County Dairy Cattle Judging Contest held Sept. 19 during the Vernon County Fair in Viroqua.
The top overall individual award went to Mathew Gunst of University of U of M-Maroon. Winning top oral reasons team was U of M-Gold while the top oral reasons individual was Ashley Hagenow of U of M-Gold.
High team Jerseys was won by U of M-Maroon. High Jersey individual was Gunst. Guernsey high team was UW-Madison-Cardinal. Kylie Nickels of that team was named Guernsey high individual. U of M-Maroon was Brown
Swiss high team, while Brown Swiss high individual was Mason Kruse of UW-Platteville.
Iowa State University topped the high team Holstein category and Elise Bleck, of UW-Madison Cardinal won the high individual Holsteins.
Fourteen teams traveled to compete from five states across the U.S. The Vernon County Fair has supported this contest since its start. Vernon and Monroe County youth exhibitors provided their expertise in leading the animals for each class so that competitors could view the cattle from all angles.
This year’s all-volunteer committee was comprised of a variety of dairy enthusiasts. Dairy farmers, local industry professionals, former co-workers and fair board members assisted in various roles to host the event. Plans are already underway to host the 28th annual Vernon County Dairy Cattle Judging Contest.
