Accelerated Genetics

High Team Overall University of Minnesota-St. Paul Back row from left: Les Hansen, Coach, Brandon Thesing, Mike Donnelly, Tara Meyer, Coach and Dr. Ole Meland, Vice President of Genetics at Accelerated Genetics. Front row from left: Staci Sexton and Jessica Achen.

A team from the University of Minnesota took home the top honors and the coveted Brown Swiss Canton III Traveling Trophy on September 14, 2008 after winning the 15^th Annual Accelerated Genetics Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest. The University of Minnesota team coached by Les Hansen and Tara Meyer included team members: Brandon Thesing, Mike Donnelly, Stacy Sexton and Jessica Achen.

There was much excitement during this year's awards banquet as the placings and cuts were revealed along with the award winner's announced for each breed, oral reasons and then overall. Placing Second Overall in the contest was the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, coached by Steve Kelm and Drew Johnson. Team members: Lezli Weis, Mary Johnson, Londa Johnson and Sandra Kirchner. And coming in Third Overall was Cal-Poly State University, coached by Stand Henderson. Team members: Nisa Gallichio, Ashly Garcia, Kelsey Cheda and Katherine Rector.

In the Overall Individual competition the University of Minnesota took home the top spot as well with student Brandon Thesing. The other top individuals included. Mary Johnson, second, University of Wisconsin-River Falls; Katherine Rector, third, Cal-Poly State University; Jamie Hermann, fourth, Kansas State University; Ben Sarbacker, fifth, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Cole Rupprecht, sixth, North Dakota State University; Kelly Sime, seventh, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Londa Johnson, eighth, University of Wisconsin-River Falls; Mike Donnelly, ninth, University of Minnesota; and Adam Koppes, tenth, Iowa State University.

The University of Minnesota team won the High Team in Oral Reasons with second place going to the University of Wisconsin River Falls. Third place went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison team, coached by Ted Halbach and Dave Dickson. Team members: Kelly Sime, Adam Geiger, Dana Mohn and Jade Bucholz.

The Top Three Individials in Oral Reasons take home a special scholarship from the James Crowley Fund. Placing First in Oral Reasons was Brandon Thesing, University of Minnesota; Second was awarded to Mary Johnson, University of Wisconsin-River Falls; and Third was awarded to Mike Donnelly, University of Minnesota.

Twenty-two teams participated in the contest this year from all across the United States. The contest is held at the Vernon County Fairgrounds in Viroqua, Wisconsin. During the contest each participant placed ten classes and gave five sets of oral reasons. They judged at least one class of each of the following breeds: Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey and Milking Shorthorn.

Another portion of the Accelerated Genetics Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest was the leadsperson showmanship contest. Every year, the youth of Vernon County assist the contest by leading the cattle, this year over 30 youth participated. Placing first in the Junior Division was Ryan Gutenberger, second place was Logan Gutenberger, and third place was Jacob Leum. In the senior division, Carrie Jo Leum placed first, Jessica Parker place second, and Derek Petersheim was third. The Showmanship Spirit Award was presented to JJ McClelland. And the overall showmanship winner received a special award in memory of David Larson, who worked very closely with the Vernon County youth and the judging contest. The recipient of the David Larson Memorial Showmanship Award went to Drew Hendrickson.

This contest would not be possible without the tremendous support of the numerous contest and award sponsors. They included: American Guernsey Association, American Jersey Cattle Association, American Milking Shorthorn Society, Ayrshire Breeders Association, Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders Association, Fort Dodge Animal Health, Connie Schmelzer, American Printing/Schumann Printers, Inc., Holstein Association USA, Organic Valley, James W. Crowley Fund, Merial Ltd., Milk Products, Inc., Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Sci-Tech Premixes, Swiss Valley Farms, Co., The Baraboo National Bank, The State Bank of Viroqua, Vernon County Agricultural Society, Vernon County Junior and Open Dairy Exhibitors, Village Market, the Wisconsin Brown Swiss Canton III and Accelerated Genetics.