meta California Wins 104th National 4-H Dairy Judging Contest as Wisconsin’s Braeden Bechel Sweeps Individual Honors | The Bullvine

California Wins 104th National 4-H Dairy Judging Contest as Wisconsin’s Braeden Bechel Sweeps Individual Honors

The Golden State took the team banner by 17 points. Bechel took everything else that wasn’t nailed down.

California’s national championship team of Kestin Martin, Lauren Silveira, Kherington Azevedo and Karley Rocha, coached by Terianne Silveira. They won the 104th National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest by 17 points.

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

PlaceStateScoreTeam membersCoach(es)
1California2,046Kestin Martin, Lauren Silveira, Kherington Azevedo, Karley RochaTerianne Silveira
2Wisconsin2,029Braeden Bechel, Bryce Bechel, Ava Kolodzienski, Hannah FesenmaierBob Traynor, Peter Coyne, Jayne Esch
3New York1,974Addyson Shawley, Josiah Freier, Hadessa Adsit, Bella MuckDr. Douglas Waterman
4Michigan1,957Austin Preston, Gracie Triick, Kelsey Gruner, Elena TaninLynn Olthof, Joe Domecq
5Connecticut1,957Sofia Figlar, Hailey Platt, Avery Hutton, Christa FreelWilliam Davenport, Emily Syme
6Minnesota1,932Monika Frericks, Allison Ratka, Ella Lahr, Izzy LahrSadie Frericks, Kevin Ratka, Tara Meyer
7Ohio1,924Taylor Klopfenstein, Sydney Beiting, Charlie Weiss, Maggie RodenbucherSherry Smith
8Pennsylvania1,906Connor Servin, Alexis Servin, Wyatt Lehner, Clayton PrinkeyChad Dechow
9Kentucky1,899Bailey Davidson, Caleb Lipps, Dustin Wright, Ethan ScottLarissa Tucker, Lannie Willen
10Florida1,896Allie Love, Lila Bishop, Levi LarsonGene Holcomb
The top five individuals in the National 4-H contest. Bechel (right) holds the high individual award.

Top 10 individuals overall

  1. Braeden Bechel, Wisconsin, 715
  2. Kestin Martin, California, 700
  3. Kherington Azevedo, California, 683
  4. Hadessa Adsit, New York, 672
  5. Addyson Shawley, New York, 669
  6. Hailey Platt, Connecticut, 667
  7. Allison Ratka, Minnesota, 666
  8. Gracie Triick, Michigan, 665
  9. Lauren Silveira, California, 663
  10. Wyatt Lehner, Pennsylvania, 662

Top 10 teams in reasons

  1. Wisconsin, 669
  2. Michigan, 654
  3. Minnesota, 651
  4. New York, 645
  5. California, 637
  6. Ohio, 634
  7. Florida, 610
  8. Pennsylvania, 608
  9. Missouri, 604 (coached by Karla Deaver and Ted Probert)
  10. Texas, 599 (coached by Heather Jones)

Top 10 individuals in reasons

  1. Braeden Bechel, Wisconsin, 232
  2. Gracie Triick, Michigan, 229
  3. Kestin Martin, California, 223
  4. Addyson Shawley, New York, 221
  5. Allison Ratka, Minnesota, 221
  6. Bryce Bechel, Wisconsin, 221
  7. Sydney Beiting, Ohio, 221
  8. Hadessa Adsit, New York, 218
  9. Wyatt Lehner, Pennsylvania, 217
  10. 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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