Students sharpen their skills at dairy judging contest.

Eighteen university dairy judging teams from across the United States traveled to Viroqua, Wis., to participate in the 10th Annual Accelerated Genetics' Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest. "The purpose of our contest is to assist future dairy leaders in further developing their cattle evaluation and speaking skills at a top quality contest," said Roger Ripley, president and CEO of Accelerated Genetics, Baraboo, Wis. "Further, it provides a showcase of the Accelerated Genetics production facility region." During the contest, each participant placed 10 classes and gave five sets of oral reasons. Winning the top spot as High Individual Overall was Sarah Olson of the University of Minnesota Team A. The University of Illinois team won the honor of being High Team Overall. Another portion of the contest was a leadsperson showmanship contest, in which Carrie Jo Leum took first in the Junior Division and Billy Kellogg placed first in the Senior Division.