By Scout Nelson
The University of Minnesota captured its fourth consecutive title at the National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest, held on September 26, 2026, during the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. The victory extends the program’s record-setting success following its historic third straight championship in 2025.
Minnesota secured the overall team title by a commanding 41-point margin. The team also finished first in oral reasons, first in overall placings, and earned top honors in the Brown Swiss, Jersey and Holstein breed categories.
The competition featured 64 students from 18 universities, highlighting some of the nation’s top collegiate dairy judging talent. Minnesota’s performance reinforced the strength of its dairy science program and its leadership in dairy cattle evaluation.
Team members included Jacob Harbaugh, Rachel Visser, Evan Hathaway and Tyler Ratka. Their strong individual performances were key factors in the team’s national championship run.
Harbaugh finished as the overall individual champion and placed first in oral reasons. Visser earned fourth place overall and second in oral reasons, while Hathaway placed ninth overall and ranked 11th in oral reasons.
The University of Minnesota dairy cattle judging team is coached by Dr. Les Hansen, Dr. Isaac Haagen, and alumni Eric Houdek and Gabriella Houdek. Their leadership has helped the program maintain its position among the nation’s elite dairy judging teams.
In the final team standings, Iowa State University finished second and Ohio State University placed third. Other top-performing institutions included Penn State, UW-River Falls, Purdue University, UW-Madison, Cornell University, the University of Florida and Virginia Tech.
With a fourth consecutive national championship, the University of Minnesota has established a new standard in collegiate dairy cattle judging. The achievement reflects the program’s commitment to student development, dairy education and excellence in livestock evaluation.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-ahavelaar
Categories: Minnesota, Education, Livestock