After losing a nail-biter last year to Chippewa Falls, Stanley-Boyd was too much to handle at the 2023 Chippewa County FFA Dairy Evaluation Clinic as they coasted to a nine-point victory. The clinic held at the Eric and Stephanie Goettl farm near Cadott was the setting as four schools competed for the title. A total of 99 students participated representing FFA Chapters from Bloomer, Cadott, Chippewa Falls, and Stanley-Boyd.

FFA Chapters in Chippewa County were invited to bring students with the top four scoring individuals from each chapter making up the team score. Each student judged four classes of dairy cattle and answered ten type analysis questions on the dairy cow classes. Students also participated in a dairy knowledge test and cheese flavor identification as part of the contest.

Stanley-Boyd’s team of James Mahr, Trevor Christoph, Landon Hoel, and Breckin Burzynski averaged a winning score of 205.25 out of 240 potential points which provided distance from second place Cadott’s team of Anthony Glenz, Brock Nesvacil, Devin Pilgrim, and Adam Glenz with a score of 196.25. Chi-Hi placed a close third with 195 points and Bloomer fourth with 190.25 points.

Only one point separated top scoring individual James Mahr of Stanley-Boyd (207 points) from second place individuals Anthony Glenz and Brock Nesvacil of Cadott and Jake Westaby of Chi-Hi with 206 points. Other top scorers included Trevor Christoph and Landon Hoel (Stanley-Boyd 205), Isaac Seibel (Bloomer 204), Breckin Burzynski, Haleigh Nawrocki, and Megan Pilgrim (Stanley-Boyd 202).

Jon Schmidt of Woodmohr Jerseys was the official judge for this year’s contest. Chippewa County DHIA Foundation with Chippewa County 4-H Leaders, Inc. sponsored team and individual awards. Yellowstone Cheese furnished cheese for the contest. Chippewa County Dairy Promoters provided milk and cookies for the event.