California Wins National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest
California’s team took first place in the 104th National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest held during World Dairy Expo. Kestin Martin, Lauren Silveira, Kherington Azevedo and Karley Rocha competed for California under coach Terianne Silveira.
Wisconsin placed second with 2,029 points. Its team consisted of Braeden Bechel, Bryce Bechel, Ava Kolodzienski and Hannah Fesenmaier, coached by Bob Traynor, Peter Coyne and Jayne Esch. New York ranked third with 1,974 points, followed by Michigan and Connecticut, each with 1,957 points.
The remaining teams in the overall top ten were Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Florida. Their scores were 1,932, 1,924, 1,906, 1,899 and 1,896, respectively. Florida competed with three listed team members: Allie Love, Lila Bishop and Levi Larson.
Braeden Bechel of Wisconsin led the individual overall standings with 715 points. California’s Kestin Martin placed second with 700, followed by teammate Kherington Azevedo with 683. Hadessa Adsit and Addyson Shawley of New York scored 672 and 669, while Connecticut’s Hailey Platt recorded 667 points. The rest of the individual top ten were Allison Ratka of Minnesota, Gracie Triick of Michigan, Lauren Silveira of California and Wyatt Lehner of Pennsylvania.
In the reasons category, Wisconsin led the team results with 669 points, ahead of Michigan on 654 and Minnesota on 651. New York scored 645, California 637, Ohio 634, Florida 610, Pennsylvania 608, Missouri 604 and Texas 599. Braeden Bechel also topped the individual reasons standings with 232 points; Gracie Triick scored 229 and Kestin Martin 223.
The contest received support from STgenetics as platinum sponsor and Hoard’s Dairyman as gold sponsor. Silver sponsors included FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative, The Hartford Livestock Department, the Randy Geiger Memorial Fund, Saloah Hageman and the American Guernsey Association Youth Fund. World Dairy Expo is scheduled to run in Madison from September 29 to October 2, 2026, with a trade show, a dairy cattle show, seminars, meetings and presentations.
