UNIVERSITY PARK, PA — This past June, Calkins Ag Club President Molly Diehl competed for a spot on the Pennsylvania State Dairy Judging team. She travelled to Penn State University on June 17, looking to place in the top four for a spot on the team. 

Before traveling to Penn State, she competed on the Wayne County Dairy Judging Team, practicing weekly during the winter months. Unfortunately, her practice came just shy of a spot on the state team, as she placed fifth out of 18 contestants. 

But all luck was not lost—later she found out that she had a spot on the team, due to the fourth-place finisher stepping down from the team. 

Now, Molly has been with her team, practicing and competing in nationally recognized events like the Prestigious All American Dairy Show in Harrisburg and the Maryland State Fair in September. 

While in Harrisburg, Diehl was able to place 21st, going up against some of the best in the country. 

As a team, the members were able to place sixth overall. Now Diehl is looking forward to competing at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, WI on September 28, competing against top teams in the nation. 

Diehl is looking into colleges, and she says her experience on the dairy-judging team has been very eye-opening about what her life could look like in the future. After graduating from Honesdale High School next spring, she plans to attend a four-year university to major in animal science and hopefully continue her judging career.

Outside of dairy judging, Molly is a senior captain of her school’s field hockey team, a member of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), a member of the Honesdale FFA—in which she serves as the chapter’s sentinel—and is a member of her church’s youth group. 

Diehl is looking to take the skills she learned in all the organizations of which she is a member, along with the judging team, and bring them with her into college and beyond. 

(Ed. note: Pennsylvania’s team made the Top 10 nationwide in the National 4-H Dairy Judging contest at the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin on September 28.]