MADISON, Wis. – The University of Minnesota finished first among 16 schools in the 104th National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest held here on Sunday, September  at the World Dairy Exposition®. The team finished with an overall score of 2505 points, also being the high team for reasons. The team included Brady Gille, Alexis Hoefs and Keenan Thygesen and was coached by Dr. Les Hansen, Dr. Isaac Haagen, Eric Houdek, and Gabriella Houdek. Thygesen, Gille and Hoefs placed first, fifth and sixth as individuals, respectively. This is the third consecutive year that University of Minnesota has finished as the first team overall.

Finishing as second and third place teams overall were Virginia Tech and Purdue University, respectively. Other teams finishing in the top five included Pennsylvania State and the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Teams and individuals recognized:

• Top 10 teams – Overall:

1. University of Minnesota, 2505 points
2. Virginia Tech, 2420 points, team members: Ali Landry, Mary Beth Collette, Sarah Diehl, and Reese Brock; coached by Dr. Katharine Knowlton
3. Purdue University, 2420 points, team members: Rachel Craun, Alaina Weaver, Emma Townsend, Sydney Haag; coached by Brian Engleking
4. Penn State University, 2412, team members: Hannah King, Ava Neville, Natalie Yoder, Adria Russell; coached by Dale Olver
5. University of Wisconsin–Madison, 2385, team members: Jenna Gries, Sara Kronberg, Lauren Breunig, Clarissa Ulness; coached by Brian Kelroy and Trent Olson
6. Aeres University Dronten, 2346, team members: Maarten Appelman, Joeri Groot, Floor van’t Klooster, Esmee Meijer; coached by Isa Lammersen
7. Michigan State University, 2335, team members: Maretta Finley, Olivia Black, Chloe Steiner, Laken DuRussel; coached by Dr. Joe Domecq, Lynn Olthof and Sarah Black
8. Ohio State University, 2316, team members: Jed Adams, Will Seedorf, Bradley Gotto, Lilly Marsh; coached by Bonnie Ayars and Sarah Thomas
9. Cornell University, 2306, team members: Madelynn Hoffman, Charles Haynes, Amelia Brewer, Sophia Wilbur; coached by Kevin Ziemba and Bryce Windecker
10. Iowa State University, 2276, team members: Emily Church, Anne Simpson, Lexi Steffens; coached by Christen Burgett and Mary Fliehler

• Top 10 individuals:

1. Keenan Thygesen, 866, U. of Minnesota
2. Payton Van Schyndle, 826, U. of  Wisconsin–Platteville
3. Ali Landry, 825, Virginia Tech
4. Sara Kronberg, 824, U. of Wis.–Madison
5. Alexis Hoefs, 820, U. of Minnesota
6. Brady Gille, 819, U. of Minnesota
7. Emma Townsend, 818, Purdue
8. Natalie Yoder, 814, Penn State
9. Hannah King, 812, Penn State
10. Madelynn Hoffman, 807, Cornell

• Top 10 teams – Reasons:

1. University of Minnesota, 821
2. Virginia Tech, 817
3. U. of Wisconsin­–Madison, 815
4. Purdue University, 805
5. Michigan State University, 800
6. Penn State University, 794
7. Cornell University, 780
8. Iowa State University, 770
9. Ohio State University, 763
10. Kansas State, 731, team members: Lauren Jones, Sara Celeen, Vivian Lacey; coached by Kelsey Pasch and Billy Brown

• Top 10 individuals – Reasons:

1. Keenan Thygesen, 287, U. of Minnesota
2. Sara Kronberg, 280, U. of Wis.–Madison
3. Natalie Yoder, 277, Penn State
4. Ali Landry, 276, Virginia Tech
5. Emma Townsend, 273, Purdue
6. Rachel Craun, 273, Purdue
7. Alexis Hoefs, 272, U. of Minnesota
8. Olivia Black, 271, Michigan State
9. Mary Beth Collette, 271, Virginia Tech
10. Sarah Diehl, 270, Virginia Tech