Cows, comradery, and confidence

Imagine an arena ring full of black and white dairy cows. To the untrained eyes, these cows may all look the same. Perhaps this one has more solid coloring, or that one is slightly taller. However, to members of the Ohio State Dairy Judging Team, each cow is unique in appearance, functionality, and style.
The Ohio State Dairy Judging Team, part of The Department of Animal Sciences at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), challenges participants to evaluate dairy cows and heifers against industry standards. Students look for a balance of structural and production characteristics like a long lean neck, strong legs, and a quality udder on each animal. After the participants rank the cows in the class, they must then record accurate notes, go before an official, and defend their decision through a short speech, known as an oral reason. The team participates in several national competitions each year, coached by Bonnie Ayars, Ohio State University Extension dairy and teaching specialist.

Ayars has been involved in the dairy industry since she was young. During a time when women were not encouraged to partake in many agricultural activities, Ayars exhibited cows at local, state, and national shows and worked on her family’s dairy. Encouraged by her high school career counselor, Ayars pursued a degree and career in education, paying for Ohio State classes by selling a prized cow named Gigi. After graduation, she worked in various schools for 32 years while raising her three sons on the family dairy farm with her husband, John. In 2006, Ayars stepped into her current role as the Dairy Judging Team coach when CFAES Emeritus Associate Professor Pete Spike retired.
“I was already judging shows and had built up my judging career,” Ayars said. “I came over for the interview, and I thought, ‘Finally, I can make everything fit’: my love of cows, my passion for education, and I could finally do the same things my husband and family are doing. It could not have been a better fit at a more correct time. I have had the greatest job in the world.”
As a long-standing coach for the Dairy Judging Team, Ayars has coached countless college students, including Whitney Yerina and Garrett Hastings, in the art of judging.

Yerina, a junior who transferred to Ohio State in 2024, grew up showing dairy cattle and competing in 4-H. Joining the dairy judging team felt like a natural extension of her college education.
“I think the best thing about being on a team is building relationships with teammates,” Yerina said. “Our second week at college, we all piled into a van and drove the six hours to the Maryland State Fair to practice. We did not know each other then, but we are all good friends now. We have a group text and spend time together outside of practices and contests.”
Yerina was part of the 2024 team that placed second overall at the North American International Livestock Exposition, one of the country’s largest livestock competitions.
“I had to miss the awards banquet because I had a cow to show at the same time,” Yerina recalled. “When I was coming out of the ring, my teammates were waiting ringside for me with my awards. We took a bunch of pictures, with my cow included. I will never forget that moment.”
Hastings, now a first-year veterinary student, joined the Dairy Judging Team with limited formal judging experience, but a deep passion for the dairy industry. When Hastings joined the team, he initially felt like a novice compared to his teammates. However, under Ayars’ guidance, Hastings quickly developed the skills necessary to excel in the competitive judging arena.
“Bonnie saw my potential and pushed me to reach it.”Garrett Hastings, past Dairy Judging Team member
“I came to Ohio State with a solid understanding of what dairy cattle should look like, but Bonnie and the team helped me hone my skills,” Hastings said. “I learned to break down each animal and pick out the traits that make them excel — or the faults that could be improved. That attention to detail and memorization has carried over into my studies in vet school, especially when it comes to retention and problem-solving.”
Hastings recalls the transformative impact of Ayars’ mentorship on his judging abilities, confidence, and career aspirations. “She saw my potential and pushed me to reach it. She has vast knowledge and many experiences within the dairy industry, and I have learned a lot from her,” Hastings said.

Both Yerina and Hastings agree that participating on the team is about more than competitions; it’s about personal growth and lifelong connections. Ayars’ dedication to fostering these relationships is evident in her approach to coaching.
“For me, it is not just about the awards,” Ayars said. “Watching these students grow, succeed, and find their path in life is very rewarding.”

The Ohio State Dairy Judging Team has consistently been a force to reckon with at national competitions. In addition to the team’s second-place finish at the North American International Livestock Exposition in 2024, they have earned numerous top honors in previous years, including winning the national contest at the World Dairy Expo in 2019. That victory, achieved by just one point, led to an unforgettable team trip to Switzerland, a testament to the hard work and dedication of the students and coach.
For Ayars, the team’s success reflects the unique blend of talent, work ethic, and teamwork that her students bring to the table. “If we do not work together, then nothing works. The same thing happens on a judging team. You do your personal best, and then everybody does their best. It is a group effort.”
“When you join a judging team, you have allowed yourself to step into the real world.”Bonnie Ayars, coach
As Ayars looks to the future, she remains committed to recruiting and mentoring the next generation of dairy leaders. She believes that each student brings something unique to the team and that belonging to a judging team or other extracurricular club is essential to being a well-rounded college student.
“Unless students take their education outside the classroom walls, it will be incomplete. When you join a judging team, you have allowed yourself to step into the real world,” Ayars said.
To learn more about the Dairy Judging Team, visit the CFAES competitive teams page.

All photos courtesy of Bonnie Ayars.