Animal sciences student places high at international dairy judging contest

Lane Bollenbacher, a senior studying animal sciences, placed third overall at the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) Invitational Dairy Judging Contest on Nov. 4.

Bollenbacher competed against 56 other contestants from 16 different colleges around the U.S. He placed ninth in Ayrshires, eighth in Brown Swiss, fifth in Jerseys, first in Guernseys, fourth in Reasons and third overall in the contest.

 

Two men holding awards Lane Bollenbacher (right) holds his awards while standing with Brian Engleking (left), the head coach of the Purdue Dairy Judging Team.

Bollenbacher grew up around dairy cattle, and he said it was a goal of his to be on the Purdue Dairy Judging Team. He is now a current member of the team and is coached by Brian Engleking. 

Luckily, I had a great coach like Brian to help me get to where I could be competitive. When you show up every day with the same mindset as the late Steve Hendress (‘it's a great day to judge cows’), being a part of dairy judging is a whole lot of fun.

- Lane Bollenbacher

Featured Stories

Sunrise in a Corn Field at ACRE
Indiana Corn Update - Issue #30

Indiana corn planting progress, Late Planted Corn Hybrid Decisions, mycotoxins & weather

Read More
Graphic that shows puppies and a child on the left side with a caption on the right that reads “Canine Welfare Science Conference; May 29-30, 2026; Courtyard by Marriott; Lafayette, Indiana.”
The Annual Canine Welfare Science Conference

The 2026 Annual Canine Welfare Science Conference, presented by the Croney Research Group from...

Read More
ASABE Midwest Rally 2026 Purdue Group
Purdue ASABE Midwest Rally sparks leadership growth and industry connections

Purdue’s American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) student chapter...

Read More
Professor Katy Rainey examines plants grown from the KenAvis soybean germplasm collection with breeder Bob Taylor.
Purdue acquires soybean germplasm with unique yield traits

Purdue’s Department of Agronomy has acquired the KenAvis soybean germplasm collection.

Read More
Wildfire along a ridgeline of trees
Meeting the wildfire threat with digital models of the real world

Many of the 60,000 wildfires occurring annually across the U.S. flare up in the intersection...

Read More
Somali Chaterji smiling behind a desk with two drones on it in her lab.
Somali Chaterji named 2026 University Faculty Scholar

Somali Chaterji, associate professor in Purdue University’s Department of Agricultural and...

Read More