Cattle barn at the Shawano County Fair, August 28, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Some young people from Shawano County are going for the gold at two national competitions in the dairy field.
As the Shawano County Fair approaches, members of the area’s 4-H Clubs gather inside the cattle barn to talk about recent wins.
“It was exciting. It had been kind of a long term. These kids have been involved with this for several years. Eight or nine years, probably since they started,” said Sara Harbaugh, Dairy Quiz Bowl Coach.
Sara Harbaugh is one of the coaches on the state champion Dairy High Quiz Bowl team. Her 16-year old son Logan Harbaugh is on the four-person squad.
“I guess it’s kind of anything and everything about cattle, and farming. It can be on the cattle and all of cattle health. Farming. Agronomy. Cattle anatomy,” said Logan Harbaugh, Dairy Quiz Bowl Competitor.
In addition to questions and answers, some members are preparing for the national 4-H Dairy Judging competition. 17-year old Hailey Zernicke is from Bonduel.
“Lots of practice. It helps that you live on a farm. You see cows and heifers every day. That really helps a lot,” said Hailey Zernicke, Dairy Judging Competitor.
In the contest, the competing judges have 15 minutes to rate the animals, and give an oral report of the results. Coach Jay Jauquet says team members have to think on their feet.
“Many of the things that they have to do, while they’re learning how to judge dairy cows. And come up with reasons why they made the decisions that they made,” said Jay Jauquet, Dairy Judging Coach.
And with only five weeks until the national competition, coach Lynn Harbaugh says contestants will do as much judging as possible.
“We’re going to travel to some farms, several of the upcoming weekends, up until then, and maybe even a couple evening practices as well,” said Lynn Harbaugh, Dairy Judging Coach.
Shawano County 4-H members say they will likely pursue careers in agriculture. Coach Sara Harbaugh says these competitions have an impact.
“It just gives them a really good base of knowledge. It doesn’t matter what their career will be. It just helps them become better, well-rounded kids. And hopefully contribute in the future,” she said.
Dairy Judging Championship takes place in October at the World Dairy Expo in Madison.
The Dairy Quiz Bowl Championship is scheduled for the first week in November in Lexington, Kentucky.
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