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AGSOURCE MISS Q WINNERS RECOGNIZED AT DANE COUNTY FAIR
MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin is famous for making delicious dairy products, but it takes hard work and superior care to produce high-quality milk. The Miss Q, which stands for Quality, Contest rewards junior dairy exhibitors for excellent dairy practices and is sponsored by AgSource Cooperative Services. Four youths were recognized on Friday, July 20, at the Dane County Fair. Nicole Ballweg, Dane; Katie Harn, Brooklyn; Cory Brown, Belleville and Lacey Schleicher, Columbus, were each awarded the Miss Q title and given the opportunity to sell one half-gallon of milk at the AgSource Miss Q Auction, held during the fair.
Cows on a processed DHI testing program that have completed a first, second, third or fourth-or-higher lactation were eligible for the award. The cow in each lactation class with the highest milk quality, determined by the lowest average linear score (somatic cell count), was declared the winner. Proceeds from the auction were awarded to the winning youth exhibitors to assist with further development of their dairy project or finance their post secondary education.
Nicole Ballweg and Katie Harn tied for first place in the first lactation category, and both were able to sell their quality milk pitchers.
Nicole Ballweg, daughter of Allen and Vicky Ballweg and member of the Waunakee Whirlwinds 4-H club, received $1,250.00 for her pitcher from Matt Leonard and Argall Dairy Systems, Inc. of Belleville, Wis. Lodi Veterinary Clinic and Landmark Cooperative Services participated as contending bidders.
Katie Harn's pitcher of quality milk was purchased by Denise Zygarlicke from Bou-Matic of Madison, Wis., for $500.00. Katie is a member of the Rutland 4-H club and the daughter of Michele and Darin Harn. Landmark Cooperative Services participated as a contending bidder.
Cory Brown, a member of the Belleville FFA and son of Brian and Yogi Brown, captured the second lactation award. His quality milk pitcher was purchased for $1050.00 by Dave Calvert and Cody Carpenter from Accelerated Genetics of Mineral Point, Wis. Spirited competition came from the contending bidder, Waunakee Vet of Waunakee, Wis.
Natalie Schleicher, daughter of Steve and Lisa Schleicher and member of the DeForest Handy Helpers 4-H Club, was awarded the fourth-or-higher lactation Miss Q title. Jason Luna from Bou-Matic of Madison, Wis., bought her half-gallon of quality milk for $500.00. Contending bidders were Landmark Cooperative Services and ABS Global.
Ray Kuehl, from Ray Kuehl Auction Services of Waunakee, served as auctioneer for the event.
AgSource, a member-owned cooperative headquartered in Verona, Wis., is a leader in agricultural and environmental laboratory analysis and information management services. A subsidiary of Cooperative Resources International, AgSource provides services to clients in the United States and across the globe. Learn more at http://www.agsource.com/.
