Morrisville State College Dairy Judging Team completes successful year

The 2011 Morrisville State College Dairy judging team completed another successful year, placing in several competitions.



Members of the judging team were: Tyler Clark, of Cambridge; Mike Laspada, of Clymer; Patrick Sweatman, of Sherman, all animal science—dairy associate degree majors; and Courtney Furst, of Moravia, a dairy management, bachelor degree major. All are active participants in the college's Dairy Club.



The team participated in the Eastern States Judging competition in Springfield, Mass., placing third overall while Sweatman was second high individual overall.



The team also finished third at the All American Dairy Judging Contest in Harrisburg, Pa. and finished first in the Ayrshire Breed.



Morrisville State College also competed in the Post-Secondary Dairy Cattle Judging Contest at the World Dairy Expo held in Madison, Wis. The team (minus Furst) was second high scoring team overall and also placed third in oral reasons out of 12 teams competing in the conventional dairy judging contest. Clark was second high scoring individual overall and Laspada and Sweatman tied for tenth high individual overall. In the practical contest, the team finished third overall.



“We participate in this contest every year,” said Beth Keene, assistant professor in dairy science who coached the team. “A second place finish is like the “World Series” of dairy cattle judging.”



Keene credits the dairy judging teams' successful year in part to industry professionals. “We want to thank all producers and industry personnel who support and assist in the continued success of the Morrisville State College Dairy Judging Program,” she said.



Morrisville State College dairy students will also be involved in the ninth annual Northeast Regional Dairy Challenge which the college is hosting this year in Watertown, Oct. 27-29. The hands-on event, which prepares students for careers in the dairy industry, attracts 120 of the Northeast's best and brightest students who were chosen by their universities to participate.



Morrisville State College sets the world in motion for students. Curriculums are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology. Lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs, the college was named to the 2010 President's Higher Community Service Honor Roll. Visit www.morrisville.edu to experience, Morrisville in motion.









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