The 2024 4-H Potato Grading and Identification Contest was held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show on Jan. 9.

One hundred forty-eight 4-H members participated.

The contest has 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.

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.

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” team 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, and Juliette Giles. Lehigh’s other “B” team placed 10th with team members Bridget Rabold, Levi Lazarus, Alex Weisner, and Harper Schantz.

Northampton County 4-H Member Lirael Cooney placed first overall in the A and B Division at the state 4-H Potato Judging Contest.

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