The Grand Forks County team placed first in the senior division of the state 4-H crop judging contest held at the North Dakota Winter Show in Valley City.

The team members are Daniel Kraemer, Jacob Granger and Sarah McNaughton.

The crop judging contest consists of classes of four pans each of hard red spring wheat, durum, barley, oats and flax. The 4-H’ers evaluate and rank them for seed value. Participants also identify market factors of wheat, barley and soybeans, and determine the crop grade of a sample based on information provided. The contest also includes identification of weed and crop seeds and mounts.

Counties could enter any number of 4-H participants in each division of the contest. The scores of the top three members of the county team are added to make a team score.

The second-place team in the senior division is from Morton County. Team members are Tanner Gress, Cullen Gress, Jessica Fleck and Hannah Gress. Teams from Foster, LaMoure/Mountrail and Nelson counties placed third through fifth, respectively.

Jayden Rosenau of Foster County placed first high individual in the senior division.

In the junior division, the team from LaMoure/Grand Forks counties placed first. Team members are Eva Lahlum, Thomas Granger and Zach Lahlum.

The second-place team is from Foster County. Members are Savannah Freidt, Jill Endres and Justin Lee. Teams from Walsh, Mountrail and Nelson counties placed third through fifth, respectively.

Savannah Freidt was high individual in the junior division.

In the open division, a team from Carrington placed first, followed by teams from Gackle-Streeter and Rolette.

Awards for the contest were sponsored by the Valley City Lions Club, North Dakota Winter Show and North Dakota Crop Improvement and Seed Association, and through the support of the North Dakota 4-H Foundation.

NDSU Agriculture Communication - March 18, 2014