Youth tested their knowledge of spuds during the 2024 4-H Potato Grading and Identification Contest held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show on Jan. 9.
“This contest teaches and enhances life skills such as decision making, defending your answer, quickness, and observation,” the Penn State Extension stated in the release. “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.”
Out of the 148 youth from Armstrong, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Bradford, Carbon, Indiana, Lehigh, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Potter, Union, and York counties, Lehigh County 4-H Club member Sadie Berger of Kutztown placed first in the Honors Division at the state 4-H Potato Judging Contest.
Also in the Honors Division, Lehigh County 4-H members Payge Haydt of Northampton placed second and John Emanuel of Laurys Station placed third, Allison Emanuel of Laurys Station placed third and Marisa Berger of Kutztown placed fourth.
Lehigh County 4-H members Kamryn Fink of Germansville placed seventh, Konnor Weisner of Lenhartsville placed eighth, and Jonas Geiger of Schnecksville placed ninth. Anna Remick and Ava Missmer from Lehigh County also participated in the C Division.
In fourth place was the Lehigh County “A” team consisting of members Parker Haydt of Walnutport, Samuel Lazarus of Schnecksville, Trevor Bowman of Slatington and Miranda Brown of Palmerton.
One of Lehigh County’s “B” teams placed second with team members Mary Rabold of Allentown, Colton Hanna of Breinigsville, Darren Bowman of Slatington and Hannah Keberlein of Coplay.
Lehigh’s other “B” team placed 10th with team members Bridget Rabold of Allentown, Levi Lazarus of Schnecksville, Alex Weisner of Lenhartsville and Harper Schantz of New Tripoli.
Potato contest
The contest is comprised of two divisions: basic and honors. Those who compete in the honors division are winners from previous years.
The competitors in the basic division must test their skills at three stations. The first station is a potato grading station. The timed event challenges competitors to see who can grade 100 potatoes in the shortest time. Not only is quickness important, but so is accuracy.
The second station is a defect station where competitors must accurately identify 20 different defects on 40 potatoes.
The third station is a plate grading station. Five potatoes are put on each of the 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 three stations in addition to the basic stations.
The fourth station consists of 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 in Pennsylvania are encouraged to form a potato judging team for next year. 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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