A 4-H dairy judging team representing Colorado finished 12th at the 2009 North American International Livestock Exposition Youth Dairy Cattle Judging Contest held last month in Louisville, Ky.

There were 81 individuals representing 22 4-H and FFA teams from across the nation who competed for top honors in the contest.

Representing Colorado at the contest were Kacey Vande Steeg, Gill; Morgan Penner, Lafayette; and Tyrell Pohlmann, Erie. The team was coached by Keith Maxey, Weld County Extension agent, Greeley.

The contest required participants to place 10 classes of cattle representing five different dairy breeds, and present three sets of oral reasons. Each placing class and each set of reasons was worth up to 50 points.

The Colorado team finished 12th overall, and was eighth and ninth high team in the Ayrshire and Holstein breeds, respectively. Placing in the top 25 individually were Penner, third Ayrshire, 19th Brown Swiss, 13th Guernsey, 15th Jersey and ninth high individual overall. Vande Steeg was 23rd on the Guernsey breed, while Pohlmann was sixth on Brown Swiss.

For information about the Colorado 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Program, contact Maxey at (970) 304-6535, Ext. 2075.