The Associated Press

BROOKINGS - South Dakota State University's dairy-products judging team has advanced to the national contest, which starts Monday in Las Vegas.

The four-member team won the Midwest Regional Dairy Products Evaluation Contest late last month in Glenview, Ill., defeating eight other teams.

"This is the 71st time the SDSU Dairy Science Department has competed in the National Dairy Products Judging Contest," Bob Baer, team coach and dairy science professor, said in a release. "We had a team compete in the first national contest in 1916 and have a long history of successful teams at both the regional and national contests."

Baer said dairy products judging students evaluate the flavor, body, texture and appearance of dairy products.

Team members are Tori Boomgaarden of Pipestone, Minn.; Derek Griesse of Harrisburg; Jonah King of Volga; and Ashish Pandit of Bhadran, India.