The University of Wisconsin–Madison dairy judging team earned top honors at the All-American Intercollegiate Dairy Judging Contest, held September 14th at the All-American Dairy Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Senior team members Clarissa Ulness, Jenna Gries, Sara Kronberg, and Lauren Breunig led UW–Madison to win both High Overall Team and High Team in Reasons, with all four placing in the top 10 individually and in reasons. Remarkably, only four points separated their individual scores. Clarissa Ulness earned Overall High Reasons honors and was 8th overall. Jenna Gries placed 5th overall and 10th in reasons. Sara Kronberg was 6th overall and 3rd in reasons, and Lauren Breunig placed 9th overall and 5th in reasons.
“Winning High Individual in Reasons at Harrisburg was incredibly meaningful and something I’ll always cherish,” said Clarissa Ulness. “It was the culmination of years of practice, growth, and learning to communicate clearly and confidently. What made it truly special was sharing the team win with my best friends and teammates. Competing alongside Jenna, Lauren, and Sara, and seeing all of us finish in the top 10 is something I’ll never forget. It truly was a weekend full of a lot of laughs and great memories.”
UW–Madison also claimed High Team honors in the Jersey and Holstein breeds and placed 2nd in Ayrshires and Guernseys. Individually, Clarissa won High Individual in Guernseys and placed 3rd in Holsteins. Jenna was 3rd in Ayrshires and 4th in Jerseys. Sara earned 1st in Jerseys, and Lauren placed 4th in Brown Swiss.
Two weeks later, the team competed at the 104th National Intercollegiate Dairy Judging Contest, held during World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. UW–Madison placed 5th Overall and 3rd in Reasons, with additional breed-level success including 2nd High Team in both Holsteins and Guernseys. Sara Kronberg led the team with a standout performance, placing 4th Overall, 2nd in Reasons, 1st in Holsteins, and 4th in both Guernseys and Jerseys. Jenna Gries placed 15th Overall, followed by Lauren Breunig in 28th and Clarissa Ulness in 31st. Sara and Jenna received All-American honors by placing in the top 15.
“Judging on the colored shavings at World Dairy Expo was a very rewarding experience and the best culmination of my dairy judging career,” said Sara Kronberg. “Dairy judging over the years has pushed me to grow individually while providing me with so many amazing opportunities.”
The team is coached by Brian Kelroy, a UW–Madison alumnus, and Trent Olson. The UW-Madison team’s participation was funded through the University of Wisconsin Foundation’s David P. Dickson Student Activity Fund.