4-H State Potato Grading Competition

The 2024 4-H Potato Grading and Identification Contest was held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show on January 9, 2024. One hundred forty-eight 4-H members participated in this exciting 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 station is a timed event where competitors challenge 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 is comprised 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. This means that out of 30 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. 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 first-place "A" team was from Bradford County. The second-place "A" team was from Northampton County with team members Ian Wagner, Lirael Cooney, Alivia Giles, and Porter Lindeman. The third-place "A" team was from Lebanon County. The fourth place "A" team was from Lehigh County with team members Parker Haydt, Samuel Lazarus, Trevor Bowman, and Miranda Brown. 

The first-place "B" team was from Northampton County with team members Adam Geiger, Davin Boyle. Mackenzie Ford, and Eli Geiger. One of Lehigh County's "B" teams placed second with team members Mary Rabold, Colton Hanna, Darren Bowman, and Hannah Keberlein. Another one of Northampton County's "B" team placed third with team members Trevor Ford, Jacob Mann, Tessa Klein, Juliette Giles. Lehigh's other "B" team placed 10^th with team members Bridget Rabold, Levi Lazarus, Alex Weisner, and Harper Schantz.

In the honors division, Sadie Berger placed first, Payge Haydt placed second, and John Emanuel placed third, Allison Emanuel placed third, Marisa Berger placed fourth, all from Lehigh. Kathryn Rush from Montgomery placed sixth, Kamryn Fink of Lehigh placed seventh, Konnor Weisner of Lehigh placed 8^th, and Jonas Geiger of Lehigh placed ninth. Several other individuals participated in the C Division including Anna Remick and Ava Missmer from Lehigh County.

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 if you'd like more information.