Kirchdoerfer places third at State 4-H dairy judging contest

Megan Fry, Matthew Owings and Tyler Kirchdoerfer finished first, second and third, respectively in the senior division of the Missouri State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest held August 16th at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. Twelve points separated the top three finishers.

Fry, Owings and Kirchdoerfer, along with Morgan Reed of Mountain Grove, are current members of the Missouri 4-H Dairy Judging Team, and will represent Missouri at contests in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Madison, Wisconsin this fall. Megan Fry was the high individual in the senior division with 387 points. Fry, of Mtn. Grove, was first in Brown Swiss, Guernseys, Jerseys, and Oral Reasons, and second in Holsteins. Second high individual in the senior division was Matthew Owings of Mountain Grove. Owings was first in Ayrshires, second in Guernseys and Jerseys, and third in Holsteins. Tyler Kirchdoerfer of Cape Girardeau finished third overall, and was third in Ayrshires, Brown Swiss and Jerseys.

The contestants placed six classes and gave two sets of reasons. The top three individuals in each breed received cash prizes sponsored by the Missouri breed associations. The top ten individuals in each division received rosettes from the Missouri State Fair, and the top three individuals in each division received a plaque from the Missouri State Fair and supporters of the contest. Contestants, their families, and exhibitors who provided cattle for the event were the guests at a Junior Dairymen's Barbeque sponsored by Midwest Dairy Association, Missouri State Fair, Missouri Cattlemen's Association, MFA, Dairy Farmers of America, and Hiland Dairy. The Missouri 4-H Dairy Judging Team is supported by Monsanto Company, FCS Financial, the Missouri Holstein Association and the Missouri Dairy Association in partnership with the Missouri 4-H Foundation, and thanks all their sponsors for their support.

Teams will represent Missouri 4-H at two contests this fall: The Youth Invitation Contest at the All-American Dairy Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; the National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest in Madison, Wisconsin in October.