2013 4-H Dairy Judging Team Places Fifth at National Contest

By:  Larissa Tucker and George Heersche, Jr.

The 2013 Kentucky 4-H Dairy Judging Team members are Caleb Fulkerson, Tyler Goodlett, Drew Krueger and Shelby West.  All the team members are from Spencer County.  This team had an exceptional fall.

The team participated in the Pennsylvania All-American Contest on September 9, 2013.  The team placed fifth overall in the contest.    The team also placed fourth in Ayrshire, fourth in Brown Swiss, second in Holstein and fifth in oral reasons.  Tyler Goodlett was second high individual in Holstein, fifth high individual in oral reasons and second high individual overall in the 4-H division.  Shelby West was fifth high individual in Brown Swiss.  Drew Krueger received fourth high individual in Holstein.

The National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest was held September 30th, in Madison, Wisconsin at the World Dairy Expo.  Once again the team received fifth place team overall in the contest.  They received a pen set and medallions sponsored by Zoetis.  They were also the first place team in Brown Swiss and received plaques sponsored by the Brown Swiss Association.  In Holsteins the team placed second, and finished in the top ten in Ayrshire, Jersey and Oral Reasons.

As individuals the team members all excelled.  Tyler Goodlett and Shelby West were named to the All-American club.  They will be eligible for future scholarships.  Tyler had an outstanding day; he was fourth high individual overall in the contest and received the third high individual in total placings only.  Tyler also received second high individual in Brown Swiss, and third in Holstein.  Shelby was the twentieth high individual of the contest.  She placed twelfth in oral reasons, and thirteenth in Brown Swiss.  Caleb Fulkerson was third in Brown Swiss.  Drew Krueger was fourteenth in Ayrshire.

There are several people that we would like to thank for their continued support of the Dairy Judging program.  First we want to thank the University of Kentucky Coldstream Dairy crew and herdsman Joey Clark for hosting the State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest each year.  The following breeders served as hosts for the workouts:  Fairdale Brown Swiss, and Alpine Hill Swiss.  We also thank the following sponsors for all their help and financial support:  Farm Credit Services of Mid-America, Oliver & Virginia Payne 4-H Dairy Endowment, Dairy Farmers of America, Kentucky Jersey Cattle Club, Neogen, Kentucky Dairy Development Council, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Louisville Area Jersey Cattle Club, Select Sires of MidAmerica, Venture Grant by the Kentucky 4-H Foundation, and Kentucky State Fair.

First Place Team in Brown Swiss (left to right):  Bland Baird, coach; Larissa Tucker, coach; Caleb Fulkerson, Drew Krueger, Shelby West, Leonard Johnson-Brown Swiss Association and Tyler Goodlett