The Dawson County 4-H Quiz Bowl team recently competed at the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) in Louisville, KY. Team members were Emma Peterson, Gothenburg; Greg Treffer, Cozad; Spencer Walahoski, Overton; and Jacie Wolfinger, Lexington. Accompanying the group were coach Shannon Peterson of Gothenburg and chaperone, Bruce Treffer of Cozad.
The team placed 3rd overall. Spencer Walahoski placed 4th overall individually and Greg Treffer placed 8th overall individually. The Dawson County team won the first three rounds and lost only to Texas and Wisconsin who ended up as champion and reserve champion.
The North American International Livestock Exposition is the largest all-breed, purebred livestock event in the world, with 10 livestock divisions and more than 30,000 entries across the country—all under one roof. Countless exhibitors and visitors attend each year. Annually the Exposition is host to many of 4-H’s National Livestock contests including Skillathon, Livestock Judging, and Quiz Bowl.
The quartet earned the trip to represent Nebraska at the National 4-H Contest by being the Champion team at the Premier Animal Science Event this past summer at UNL. Donations from the Dawson County Cattlemen, the Nebraska 4-H Foundation and the Dawson County 4-H Foundation helped make the trip possible.
In 2019 the Dawson County team of Savannah Peterson, Neligh Andersen, Heath Keiser, and Jace Russman also earned a trip to NAILE. Dawson County has a history of talented youth that continually excel in life-skill competitions.
