4-H State Potato Grading Competition

This contest is comprised of two divisions: "basic and honors." The "honors" division are winners from previous years. Competitors in the "basic" division assess their skills at three stations. The first station is the "potato grading" station where competitors challenge to see who can grade one hundred potatoes in the shortest time. Quickness and accuracy are important. The second station is the "defect station" where competitors accurately identify twenty different defects on forty potatoes. The third station is the "plate" grading station where five potatoes are on the four plates. Each plate is evaluated on uniformity of size and shape, lack of defects, ranked in order and judged.

Competitors in "honors" complete three stations in addition to the basic stations. The fourth station is comprised of two more plate classes. The fifth station is estimating the weights of two large potatoes. At the sixth station, contestants pick a Premium Pack. This means that out of thirty potatoes, the ten most uniform and defect-free potatoes must be chosen. 

This contest teaches and enhances life skills such as decision making, defending your answer, quickness, and observation. 4-H members apply these skills when judging potatoes, judging livestock, and preparing for future careers and activities.

The first place "A" team from Lehigh County included Marisa Berger, Sadie Berger, Jonas Geiger, and Konnor Weisner.

First place "B" team members included: Trevor Bowman, Allison Emanuel, John Emanuel, and Emily Laudenslager.

Second place "B" team members included: Kamryn Fink, Parker Haydt, and Payge Haydt.

The third place "B" team members included:  Darren Bowman, Kaitlyn Dietrich, Levi Lazarus, and Samuel Lazarus

The top two individual awards presented in these divisions are Lehigh members Marisa Berger and Payge Haydt. The Cloverbuds award included Alex Weisner of Lehigh County.