A record number of contestants participated in the 2020 4-H Potato Grading and Identification Contest Jan. 7 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

One hundred and thirty-nine 4-H members from 33 teams participated in this exciting contest.

Registration numbers increased by 40 percent from last year and included five new counties.

4-H youth from Blair, Bradford, Bucks, Carbon, Indiana, Lebanon, Lehigh, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montgomery, Northampton, Union and York counties all tested their knowledge of spuds.

The first and second place “B” teams were from Lehigh County.

First-place team members included: Konnor Weisner of Lenhartsville, Sadie Berger of Kutztown, John Emanuel of Laurys Station and Trevor Bowman of Slatington.

Second-place team members included: Allison Emanuel of Laurys Station, and Haley and Kaytlin Dietrich, both of New Tripoli.

The top three individual awards were presented to the following respectively: Konnor Weisner, Sadie Berger, John Emanuel, all from Lehigh County.

In the honors division, Sarenity Burkit placed first, Daniel Eyre placed second, and Rorie Anderson placed third out of 10 contestants, all from Northampton County.

The Cloverbuds included Adam and Eli Geiger of Northampton County, Vincent Gambone of Montgomery County, Alex Weisner of Lehigh County, Millie Ruszkowski of Bucks County, and the following from York County: Madison Clauser, Emma Witt, Lila Mummert and Ruby and Rose Delp.

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 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.

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