The 2015 4-H Potato Grading and Identification Contest took place Jan. 13 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

Forty-five 4-H members comprising 12 teams participated in this exciting contest.

4-H members from Dauphin, Montgomery and Union Counties participated for the first time. Returning counties included Lehigh, Northampton, Bradford and Indiana, which all tested their knowledge of spuds.

The contest is comprised of two divisions; basic and honors. Those who compete in the honors division are winners from previous years.

Competitors in the basic division must test their skills at three stations.

The first, a "potato grading" 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, put on each of four plates, 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 while the fifth station is estimating the weights of two large potatoes.

At the sixth station, contestants must pick a Premium Pack. This means out of 30 potatoes, the 10 most uniform and defect-free potatoes must be chosen.

This contest teaches and enhances life skills such as decision making, defending answers, 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.

There were a total of 33 4-H members in the basic division, an additional nine 4-H members in the honors division, and three Cloverbuds learning the program.

The second place "A" team was from Lehigh County with team members Bailey Vassallo, Tori Shiffert, and Annika DeMaster.

Lehigh County's "B" team placed third with team members Jonas Geiger, Ashleigh Albert, and Amber Schiffert.

Montgomery County's "B" team, named Spuds R Us, placed fourth with team members Mariellen Kehler, Naomi Lindsay, Annabelle Martindell, and Jessica Pierce. Montgomery County's "B" team, named Tater Mashers, placed fifth with team members Leila Bechtel, Kyle Kucas, and Adrianna Maurer.

Union County's "B" team placed sixth with team members Shawna Franck, Paige Rhyne, and Skyler Smith.

The top nine individual awards were presented to the following: tied for eighth were Ashleigh Albert of Lehigh and Jessica Pierce of Montgomery, and ninth, Tori Schiffert of Lehigh.

In the honors division, Olivia Geiger of Lehigh placed first, Lillie Geiger of Lehigh placed second, Gary Yagerhofer of North-ampton placed third, Brandon Selig of Lehigh placed fourth, Matthew Eyer of Northampton placed fifth, Grace Royer of Lehigh placed sixth, and Ian Royer of Lehigh placed seventh, Danielle Ford of Northampton was eighth, and Maggie Durkin of Lehigh was ninth.

The Cloverbuds included John Clark Bruner of Indiana County, Konnor Weisner of Lehigh County, and Willow Bacorn of Bradford County.

All counties in Pennsylvania are encouraged to form a potato judging team for next year.

Contact Kelly Weisner at kmb26@psu.edu for more information.