2026 4-H State Potato and Grading Identification Contest

The 2026 4-H Potato Grading and Identification Contest was held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show on January 13, 2026. This year was the largest group yet! 177 youth from 15 counties across the state participated in the contest. Participating counties included: Armstrong, Bradford, Berks, Carbon, Delaware, Indiana, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Potter, Schuylkill, Union, and York. 

The contest is comprised of multiple divisions: basic (A, B, and C), beginners, honors, and non-competitive. Those who compete in the honors division are winners from previous years.

The competitors in the basic division 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. Not only is quickness important, but so is accuracy. 
• 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. Five potatoes are put on each of four plates. Each plate must be evaluated on uniformity or size and shape and lack of defects. The plates must be ranked in order. Two classes of plates must be judged.

This contest teaches and enhances life skills such as decision-making, defending your answer, quickness, and observation. These skills are used for judging potatoes and also for judging livestock and other items in 4-H. Enhancing the use of these skills helps prepare 4-H members for future careers and activities.

• A Teams, Northampton placed second.
  Davin Boyle was 2nd place Individual-A
  Lirael Cooney was 7th place Individual-A
  Adam Geiger was 10th place Individual-A.   
• B Teams, Northampton placed second. 
  Eli Geiger was 1st place Individual-B
  Mackenzie Ford was 7th place Individual-B
  Abby Longenbach was 8th place Individual-B.
• C Teams, Northampton placed first.
  Ian Wagner was 1st place Individual-C
  Tessa Klein was 3rd place Individual-C
  Aiden Skorinko was 7th place Individual-C
  Jacob Mann was 8th place Individual-C

• D Teams, Keiran Boyle was 9th place Individual-D (Beginners).

Several other individuals from across the state participated in the E-Division, which is the same event, but non-competitive. This division is for counties with large delegations and for Cloverbud members who are 5-7 years old. The top three placing honors contestants were from Lehigh, Lehigh, and Bradford Counties.

All counties in Pennsylvania are encouraged to form a potato judging club. Training materials are available. Horticulture Educators, Master Gardeners, local gardeners, and potato producers are all good resources for volunteer leaders. Northampton County is very lucky to have a wonderful group of dedicated and knowledgeable volunteers to help with the Potato Judging Club, who are also local producers!