In dairy judging, youth evaluate classes of dairy cows and heifers and are then asked to defend their placings through oral reasoning. Youth learn the dairy cow unified scorecard and major breakdowns, anatomy of the dairy cow, along with dairy judging terminology.
Allamakee County had 10 4-H youth participating in the State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest held at the Iowa State Fair Wednesday, August 6 in Des Moines. They made up three teams, two in the Junior Division and one in the Senior Division.
The following youth participated in the 2025 Dairy Judging Contest: Zach Danhof, Brielle Gavin, Brogan Gavin, Naomi Palmer, Roslyn Palmer, Sophia Palmer, Kendyl Wedo, Landon Guese, Ethan Palmer, and Norah Palmer. The 2025 Allamakee County Dairy Judging teams were coached by Jason Danhof and Lars Sivesind.
The Junior Contest involved 22 youth representing the counties of Allamakee, Delaware, Fayette, Scott, and Winneshiek. Allamakee Junior Dairy Judging Team 1 was the second-place team Overall and third-place team in Reasons. The team placed first in the Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, and Holstein divisions, second in the Jersey division, third in the Guernsey division, and fourth in the Milking Shorthorn division.
Team individual highlights include: Zach Danhof placed second overall; fifth in reasons; fifth in Ayrshire; seventh in Brown Swiss; fourth in Guernsey; first in Holstein; fourth in Jersey and eighth in Milking Shorthorn. Brielle Gavin placed 14th overall; 12th in reasons; 22nd in Ayrshire; sixth in Brown Swiss; 14th in Guernsey; 18th in Holstein; 13th in Jersey; and second in Milking Shorthorn.
Naomi Palmer placed sixth overall; eighth in reasons; 11th in Ayrshire; second in Brown Swiss; 17th in Guernsey; seventh in Holstein; third in Jersey; and ninth in Milking Shorthorn. Kendyl Wedo placed fifth overall; 15th in reasons; first in Ayrshire; third in Brown Swiss; sixth in Guernsey; second in Holstein; eighth in Jersey; and 19th in Milking Shorthorn.
Allamakee Junior Dairy Judging Team 2 was the fourth-place team Overall and fifth-place team in Reasons. The team placed second in the Ayrshire and Milking Shorthorn, fifth in the Brown Swiss and Jersey divisions, and in sixth place in both the Guernsey and Holstein divisions.
Team individual highlights include: Roslyn Palmer placed 16th overall; 21st in reasons; 16th in Ayrshire; 19th in Brown Swiss; 22nd in Guernsey; fifth in Holstein; 19th in Jersey; and 11th in Milking Shorthorn. Brogan Gavin placed seventh overall; 19th in reasons; second in Ayrshire; fifth in Brown Swiss; 20th in Guernsey; 21st in Holstein; fifth in Jersey; and sixth in Milking Shorthorn.
The Senior Division of competition had 26 youth representing Allamakee, Delaware, Fayette, and Winneshiek counties. Allamakee County’s Senior Dairy Judging Team placed second as a team Overall and fourth place in Reasons. Landon Guese placed 16th overall; eighth in reasons; first in Ayrshire; 25th in Brown Swiss; 15th in Guernsey; ninth in Holstein; 11th in Jersey; and 15th in Milking Shorthorn. Ethan Palmer placed fifth overall; 10th in reasons; 17th in Ayrshire; second in Brown Swiss; seventh in Guernsey; 14th in Holstein; first in Jersey; and 22nd in Milking Shorthorn.
Norah Palmer placed 10th overall; 15th in reasons; eighth in Ayrshire; 12th in Brown Swiss; tenth in Guernsey; 25th in Holstein, fifth in Jersey; and seventh in Milking Shorthorn. Sophia Palmer placed 11th overall; 17th in reasons; second in Ayrshire; ninth in Brown Swiss; 23rd in Guernsey; second in Holstein, 20th in Jersey; and 11th in Milking Shorthorn.
The dairy judging team would like to extend its sincere appreciation to the numerous dairy farmers across northeast Iowa who allowed them to host practices on their farms while evaluating their cattle. Appreciation also goes out to Allamakee County Dairy Judging coaches Jason Danhof and Lars Sivesind for arranging practices, chaperoning youth at State Contest, fostering a safe and welcome learning environment, and for providing encouragement to each participant.