The Golden State took the team banner by 17 points. Bechel took everything else that wasn’t nailed down.
California won the 104th National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest at World Dairy Expo with 2,046 points. Wisconsin’s Braeden Bechel still made it a day his home state won’t forget.
Wisconsin’s Braeden Bechel was high individual overall with 715 points, 15 clear of the field, and high individual in reasons with 232.
Kestin Martin, Lauren Silveira, Kherington Azevedo and Karley Rocha, coached by Terianne Silveira, won it with depth. All three of California’s counting scores landed in the top 10 individuals: Martin was second, Azevedo third and Silveira ninth. That consistency put them on top.
Wisconsin finished second with 2,029, just 17 points back. Braeden Bechel, Bryce Bechel, Ava Kolodzienski and Hannah Fesenmaier, coached by Bob Traynor, Peter Coyne and Jayne Esch, won the reasons team title with 669 points. That’s 15 more than any other state.
Braeden Bechel led the whole way. He was high individual overall with 715 points, 15 clear of the field, and high individual in reasons with 232. Bryce Bechel added a sixth-place reasons finish.
New York was third with 1,974. Michigan and Connecticut tied at 1,957, with Michigan placed fourth and Connecticut fifth.
Top 10 teams overall
| Place | State | Score | Team members | Coach(es) |
| 1 | California | 2,046 | Kestin Martin, Lauren Silveira, Kherington Azevedo, Karley Rocha | Terianne Silveira |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 2,029 | Braeden Bechel, Bryce Bechel, Ava Kolodzienski, Hannah Fesenmaier | Bob Traynor, Peter Coyne, Jayne Esch |
| 3 | New York | 1,974 | Addyson Shawley, Josiah Freier, Hadessa Adsit, Bella Muck | Dr. Douglas Waterman |
| 4 | Michigan | 1,957 | Austin Preston, Gracie Triick, Kelsey Gruner, Elena Tanin | Lynn Olthof, Joe Domecq |
| 5 | Connecticut | 1,957 | Sofia Figlar, Hailey Platt, Avery Hutton, Christa Freel | William Davenport, Emily Syme |
| 6 | Minnesota | 1,932 | Monika Frericks, Allison Ratka, Ella Lahr, Izzy Lahr | Sadie Frericks, Kevin Ratka, Tara Meyer |
| 7 | Ohio | 1,924 | Taylor Klopfenstein, Sydney Beiting, Charlie Weiss, Maggie Rodenbucher | Sherry Smith |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 1,906 | Connor Servin, Alexis Servin, Wyatt Lehner, Clayton Prinkey | Chad Dechow |
| 9 | Kentucky | 1,899 | Bailey Davidson, Caleb Lipps, Dustin Wright, Ethan Scott | Larissa Tucker, Lannie Willen |
| 10 | Florida | 1,896 | Allie Love, Lila Bishop, Levi Larson | Gene Holcomb |
Top 10 individuals overall
- Braeden Bechel, Wisconsin, 715
- Kestin Martin, California, 700
- Kherington Azevedo, California, 683
- Hadessa Adsit, New York, 672
- Addyson Shawley, New York, 669
- Hailey Platt, Connecticut, 667
- Allison Ratka, Minnesota, 666
- Gracie Triick, Michigan, 665
- Lauren Silveira, California, 663
- Wyatt Lehner, Pennsylvania, 662
Top 10 teams in reasons
- Wisconsin, 669
- Michigan, 654
- Minnesota, 651
- New York, 645
- California, 637
- Ohio, 634
- Florida, 610
- Pennsylvania, 608
- Missouri, 604 (coached by Karla Deaver and Ted Probert)
- Texas, 599 (coached by Heather Jones)
Top 10 individuals in reasons
- Braeden Bechel, Wisconsin, 232
- Gracie Triick, Michigan, 229
- Kestin Martin, California, 223
- Addyson Shawley, New York, 221
- Allison Ratka, Minnesota, 221
- Bryce Bechel, Wisconsin, 221
- Sydney Beiting, Ohio, 221
- Hadessa Adsit, New York, 218
- Wyatt Lehner, Pennsylvania, 217
- Austin Preston, Michigan, 217
The contest is supported by Platinum Sponsor STgenetics and Gold Sponsor Hoard’s Dairyman. Silver Sponsors are FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative, The Hartford Livestock Department, the Randy Geiger Memorial Fund, Saloah Hageman and the American Guernsey Association Youth Fund.
Additional supporters are the American Jersey Cattle Association, Ayars Family Farm, Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders Association, David P. Dickson Trust, Dr. Douglas Waterman, Fight Bac, Holstein Association USA, Inc., Maryland Brown Swiss Association, Judy Majeskie, National Dairy Shrine, Select Sires, Inc., Semex/Boviteq and Trans Ova Genetics.
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