The 2025 4-H Potato Grading and Identification Contest was held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Jan. 7. Some 168 4-H members participated in this exciting contest.

4-H youth from Armstrong, Berks, Bucks, Bradford, Carbon, Delaware, Indiana, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Potter, Schuylkill, Union and York counties 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 station is a potato grading station. This 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 and 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 more stations in addition to the basic stations. The fourth station is comprised of two more plate classes, and 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 10 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 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.

In the basic division, the first-place “A” team was from Lehigh County with team members Parker Haydt, of Northampton; Emma Olmstead, of Lenhartsville; Trevor Bowman, of Slatington; and Miranda Brown, of Palmerton.

Lehigh County’s “B” team placed second with team members Mary Rabold, of Allentown; Levi Lazarus, of Schnecksville; Bridget Rabold, of Allentown; and Alex Weisner, of Lenhartsville.

The first-place “C” team was from Lehigh County with team members Hannah Keberlein, of Northampton; Colton Hanna, of Breinigsville; Darren Bowman, of Slatington; and Harper Schantz, of New Tripoli.

A scramble team of Bradford and Lehigh counties placed fourth in the “C” division with Ava Missmer, of Orefield.

In the beginner division, Lehigh County 4-H members Ben Missmer, of Orefield; Quinley Hanna, of Breinigsville; and Lauren Matulevich, of New Tripoli, participated.

In the honors division, Sadie Berger, of Kutztown, placed first; Konnor Weisner, of Lenhartsville, placed second; Jonas Geiger, of Schnecksville, placed third; Allison Emanuel, of Laurys Station, placed fourth; John Emanuel, of Laurys Station, placed fifth; Payge Haydt, of Northampton, placed sixth; and Kamryn Fink, of Germansville, placed ninth, all from Lehigh County 4-H.

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 for more information.