UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls
Newsroom
The UW-River Falls team at the All-American contest in Harrisburg. L-R: Coach Steve Kelm, Clint Irrthum, Kaila Tauchen, Erica Helmer, Matthew Kramer.
UW-River Falls Dairy Judging Team takes third place at two national competitions
September 25, 2018 - The University of Wisconsin-River Falls Dairy Judging Team took third place overall at two recent competitions: the 2018 Big E Eastern States Exposition held in West Springfield, Mass. and the All-American Invitational in Harrisburg, Penn. This was the first time a UW-River Falls team participated in the Big E competition where the UWRF team faced eight other teams. The UWRF team faced 14 teams in the intercollegiate competition at the All-American Invitational.
Representing UW-River Falls were dairy science major Erica Helmer of Plymouth, agricultural business major Clint Irrthum of Wanamingo, Minn., dairy science major Matthew Kramer of St. Cloud, and dairy science and marketing communications double major Kaila Wussow Tauchen of Cecil.
Helmer was the fourth high individual out of the 59 individuals competing at Harrisburg. The team fared well in several categories at Harrisburg, taking first in Holsteins, second in both Jerseys and reasons. Similarly, at the Big E, the team placed first in Milking Shorthorns, and second in both Holsteins and Ayrshires. Irrthum was the fifth high individual overall at the Big E.
UW-River Falls also sent a team to the Accelerated Genetics and East Central/Select Sires Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest in Viroqua earlier this month. Twelve universities participated in this 25th anniversary competition. Animal science major Brooke Brantner of Menomonie took second place overall, first place in the Holstein category and third in reasons. The team finished fifth overall. The team competing consisted of Brantner, agricultural education major Eric Wachtendonk of Bloomer, agricultural education major Mason Jauquet of Pulaski, and dairy science major Alyssa Seitz of Seymour.
The teams are coached by dairy science Professor Steve Kelm and Mary Holle, a 2012 graduate of the dairy science program.
For more information, email laura.walsh@uwrf.edu or call 715-425-4714.
