Hillsboro FFA hosts Earl Wineinger dairy cattle contest
Twenty-eight Hillsboro FFA members and agriculture students helped host and compete in the Earl Wineinger Dairy Cattle Contest March 9 at Marion County Fairgrounds. They canvassed the Hillsboro and Marion communities gaining sponsors for the event, worked concessions, tabulated scores, moved cows, and tested their skills in evaluating dairy cows.
One hundred and fifty high school students from the South Central Kansas District and from other areas of Kansas convened in Hillsboro for this career development event. They were divided into divisions or teams according to the level of their experience. The freshmen division consisted of students who had not competed before. Mid-level students were on the B-team and advanced members were placed on the A-team.
Tim Kilgore, Hillsboro High School's agriculture teacher, said the divisions help level the playing field so students gain confidence in their abilities while they learn. Kilgore noted that career development events give students practice in skills "they can use down the road, like critical thinking."
In this year's event, Hillsboro's freshmen team won second in the district and second overall. Four team members also won plaques as individuals. The freshman team consisted of Alex Jost (5th in district, 5th overall), Daniel Roble (tied 10th in district), Ty Goossen (tied 10th in district), Amber King (tied 10th in district), Zach Jost, Michael Scheele, Jacob Yoder, and Dustin Strunk.
The A-team won first in the district and second overall. Team members were Caleb Barkman (1st in district, 3rd overall), Alex Nuss, Megan Daniels, Sean Leihy, Darcy Unrau, and Matt Brown.
Kilgore was pleased with the outcome.
"This is the first time since I've been here that we've done so well all in one day," he said.
Klassen Dairy and Rock Home Dairy provided the cattle for the contest and about 20 businesses in Hillsboro and Marion sponsored the team and individual awards.
