University of Minnesota finished first among 16 schools in the 104^th National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at World Dairy Expo^®. The team finished with a score of 2,505 and added to their achievements by also being the high team for reasons. The team included Brady Gille, Alexis Hoefs and Keenan Thygesen and was coached by Dr. Les Hansen, Dr. Isaac Haagen, Eric Houdek, and Gabriella Houdek. Thygesen, Gille and Hoefs placed first, fifth and sixth as individuals, respectively. This is the third year consecutive year that University of Minnesota has finished as the first team overall. Finishing second and third team overall were Virginia Tech and Purdue University, respectively. Other teams finishing in the top five include Pennsylvania State University and University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Teams and individuals receiving recognition include:

Top Ten Teams – Overall:

1. University of Minnesota, 2,505, team members: Brady Gille, Alexis Hoefs, and Keenan Thygesen coached by Dr. Les Hansen, Dr. Isaac Haagen, Eric Houdek, and Gabriella Houdek
2. Virginia Tech, 2,420, team members: Ali Landry, Mary Beth Collette, Sarah Diehl, and Reese Brock coached by Dr. Katharine Knowlton
3. Purdue University, 2,420, team members: Rachel Craun, Alaina Weaver, Emma Townsend, Sydney Haag coached by Brian Engleking
4. Pennsylvania State University, 2,412, team members: Hannah King, Ava Neville, Natalie Yoder, Adria Russell coached by Dale Olver
5. University of Wisconsin–Madison, 2,385, team members: Jenna Gries, Sara Kronberg, Lauren Breunig, Clarissa Ulness coached by Brian Kelroy and Trent Olson
6. Aeres University Dronten, 2,346, team members: Maarten Appelman, Joeri Groot, Floor van’t Klooster, Esmee Meijer coached by Isa Lammersen
7. Michigan State University, 2,335, team members: Maretta Finley, Olivia Black, Chloe Steiner, Laken DuRussel coached by Dr. Joe Domecq, Lynn Olthof and Sarah Black
8. The Ohio State University, 2,316, team members: Jed Adams, Will Seedorf, Bradley Gotto, Lilly Marsh coached by Bonnie Ayars and Sarah Thomas
9. Cornell University, 2,306, team members: Madelynn Hoffman, Charles Haynes, Amelia Brewer, Sophia Wilbur coached by Kevin Ziemba and Bryce Windecker
10. Iowa State University, 2,276, team members: Emily Church, Anne Simpson, Lexi Steffens coached by Christen Burgett and Mary Fliehler

Top Ten Individuals:

1. Keenan Thygesen, 866, University of Minnesota
2. Payton Van Schyndle, 826, University of Wisconsin–Platteville
3. Ali Landry, 825, Virginia Tech
4. Sara Kronberg, 824, University of Wisconsin–Madison
5. Alexis Hoefs, 820, University of Minnesota
6. Brady Gille, 819, University of Minnesota
7. Emma Townsend, 818, Purdue University
8. Natalie Yoder, 814, Pennsylvania State University
9. Hannah King, 812, Pennsylvania State University
10. Madelynn Hoffman, 807, Cornell University

Top Ten Teams – Reasons:

1. University of Minnesota, 821, team members: Brady Gille, Alexis Hoefs, and Keenan Thygesen coached by Dr. Les Hansen, Dr. Isaac Haagen, Eric Houdek, and Gabriella Houdek
2. Virginia Tech, 817, Ali Landry, Mary Beth Collette, Sarah Diehl, Reese Brock coached by Dr. Katharine Knowlton
3. University of Wisconsin­–Madison, 815, team members: Jenna Gries Sara Kronberg, Lauren Breunig, Clarissa Ulness coached by Brian Kelroy and Trent Olson
4. Purdue University, 805, team members: Rachel Craun, Alaina Weaver, Emma Townsend, Sydney Haag coached by Brian Engleking
5. Michigan State University, 800, team members: Maretta Finley, Olivia Black, Chloe Steiner, Laken DuRussel coached by Joe Domecq, Lynn Olthof and Sarah Black
6. Pennsylvania State University, 794, team members: Hannah King, Ava Neville, Natalie Yoder, Adria Russell coached by Dale Olver
7. Cornell University, 780, Madelynn Hoffman, Charles Haynes, Amelia Brewer, Sophia Wilbur coached by Kevin Ziemba and Bryce Windecker
8. Iowa State University, 770, team members: Emily Church, Anne Simpson, Lexi Steffens coached by Christen Burgett and Mary Fliehler
9. The Ohio State University, 763, team members: Jed Adams, Will Seedorf, Bradley Gotto, Lilly Marsh coached by Bonnie Ayars and Sarah Thomas
10. Kansas State University, 731, team members: Lauren Jones, Sara Celeen, Vivian Lacey  coached by Kelsey Pasch and Billy Brown

Top Ten Individuals – Reasons:

1. Keenan Thygesen, 287, University of Minnesota
2. Sara Kronberg, 280, University of Wisconsin–Madison
3. Natalie Yoder, 277, Pennsylvania State University
4. Ali Landry, 276, Virginia Tech
5. Emma Townsend, 273, Purdue University
6. Rachel Craun, 273, Purdue University
7. Alexis Hoefs, 272, University of Minnesota
8. Olivia Black, 271, Michigan State University
9. Mary Beth Collette, 271, Virginia Tech
10. Sarah Diehl, 270, Virginia Tech

The National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest is made possible in part through the generous support of Platinum Level Sponsor, Channel Seed and STgenetics; Silver Sponsors, FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative, The Hartford Livestock Department, Randy Geiger Memorial Fund, Saloah Hageman and Bio-Vet, Inc.; and additional supporters including American Guernsey Association Youth Fund, Ayars Family Farm, Ayrshire Breeders Association, Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders Association, Maureen DeBruin, David P. Dickson Trust, Dr. Douglas Waterman, Fight Bac, Holstein Association USA, Inc., Maryland Brown Swiss Association, National Dairy Shrine, Select Sires, Inc., Semex/Boviteq, Trans Ova Genetics, Hoard’s Dairyman, Vita Plus Corporation, and ABS Global/St. Jacobs ABC.