Lehigh County 4-H members tested their knowledge of spuds against 168 young people from across the state in the 2025 4-H Potato Grading and Identification Contest held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show on Jan. 7.
“This contest teaches and enhances life skills such as decision making, defending your answer, quickness, and observation,” Lehigh 4-H staff said in announcing the event. “These skills are used for judging potatoes and are also used for judging livestock and other items in 4-H. Enhancing the use of these skills helps prepare 4-H members for future careers and activities.”
The contest has two divisions: basic and honors. Honors division competitors are winners from previous years. The competitors in the basic division must test their skills at three stations.
In the honors division, Lehigh 4-H member Sadie Berger of Kutztown placed first, Konnor Weisner of Lenhartsville placed second, and Jonas Geiger of Schnecksville placed third, Allison Emanuel of Laurys Station placed fourth, John Emauel of Laurys Station placed fifth, Payge Haydt of Northampton placed sixth, and Kamryn Fink of Germansville placed ninth.
In the basic division, the Lehigh County A team won first place with Parker Haydt of Northampton, Emma Olmstead of Lenhartsville, Trevor Bowman of Slatington and Miranda Brown of Palmerton.
Lehigh’s B team placed second with Mary Rabold of Allentown, Levi Lazarus of Schnecksville, Bridget Rabold of Allentown and Alex Weisner of Lenhartsville.
The first-place C team was from Lehigh with Hannah Keberlein of Northampton, Colton Hanna of Breinigsville, Darren Bowman of Slatington and Harper Schantz of New Tripoli.
A scramble team of Bradford and Lehigh placed 4th in the C division with Ava Missmer of Orefield.
In the beginner division, Lehigh 4-H members Ben Missmer of Orefield, Quinley Hanna of Breinigsville,and Lauren Matulevich of New Tripoli participated.
Potato Grading and Identification Contest
The first station involves potato grading, a timed event in which competitors are challenged to see who can grade 100 potatoes in the shortest time. Not only is quickness important, but so is accuracy.
At the second station, competitors must accurately identify 20 different defects on 40 potatoes.
The third station is plate grading. Five potatoes are put on each of four plates. Each plate must be evaluated on uniformity of size and shape and lack of defects. The plates must then be ranked in order. Two classes of plates must be judged.
Those in honors must complete a fourth station with two more plate classes. The fifth station is estimating the weights of two large potatoes. At the sixth station the contestants must pick a Premium Pack, which means that out of 30 potatoes the 10 most uniform and defect-free potatoes must be chosen.
All counties are encouraged to form a potato judging team for 2026. Training materials are available. Horticulture educators, master gardeners, local gardeners, and potato producers are all good resources for volunteer leaders. Contact Kelly Weisner at kmb26@psu.edu for more information.
Source: Berkshire mont
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