Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
9/13/00
Contacts:
Denise Schwab, 4-H Youth Development, (515) 294-3187,
dschwab@iastate.edu
Brad Skaar, ISU Associate Professor of Animal Science, (515)
294-2242
Tracy S. Petersen, Extension Communication Systems, (515)
294-5672
Top 4-H Livestock Judging Teams Announced
Ames, Iowa -- The Mills County 4-H livestock judging team placed first among 13 teams in the 2000 state livestock judging contest Aug. 26 at Iowa State University. The four-member team scored 1,429 points of the possible 2,400.
The second-place team from Scott County scored 1,387 points and the Story County team placed third with 1,356 points.
The Mills County team will represent Iowa in the National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest in Louisville, Ky. Team members include Josh Greiner of Silver City, Tim Grindle of Imogene and Shari Sell and Jimmy Johnson, both of Glenwood. The Mills County coach is Doug Christensen of Hastings.
The Scott County team will represent Iowa in the livestock judging contest at the National Western Livestock show in Denver. Team members include Jon Sievers of Durant, Trent Claussen of Bettendorf, and Adam Claussen and Adam Baetke, both of Eldridge. Their coach is Mike Holst of Stockton.
Representing Iowa in the livestock judging contest at the American Royal Livestock Show in Kansas City, Mo. is the Story County team. Story County team members include Ryan Mortvedt of Story City, Lissa Admundson of Nevada, Michelle Wirth of Gilbert and Kaye Strohbehn of Gilbert. Joel Morrical and Ben Engler are the team's coaches.
Fifty-three 4-H'ers competed in the individual livestock judging competition. The top individual livestock judge was Josh Greiner of Mills County with 482 points out of a possible 600. Second place went to Shari Sell of Mills County with a score of 477 points, and third place went to Tim Grindle of Mills County with 470 points. Each received a plaque.
The objectives of the Iowa 4-H Livestock Judging Contest are for the 4-H'ers to learn modern livestock evaluation methods, practice decision-making and communication skills and develop the ability to select livestock appropriate for a defined production purpose.
"The skills these 4-H'ers learn from livestock judging will be used in selecting their project animals and the foundation of their breeding herds," said Denise L. Schwab, ISU Extension 4-H & Youth Development Specialist.
4-H'ers judged live animals from beef, swine and sheep classes. For each species, 4-H'ers judged three classes of breeding livestock and market animals.
In the breeding livestock class, 4-H'ers used genetic evaluations and production scenarios to help make their decisions. The youth evaluated market animals based on producer needs and profitability, and the market evaluation class was based on the needs of the packer-buyer and carcass merit.
Each contestant presented three sets of oral reasons, each lasting no longer than two minutes. 4-H'ers were judged on accuracy, organization of thoughts, completeness, conciseness and manner of presentation of their oral reasons. "The ability to make a decision and defend it to others is a life skill they will use forever," Schwab said.
The top three teams' expenses to national contests are supported by Vigortone Agricultural Products, ConAgra, and the Iowa 4-H Foundation Animal Science Endowment.
Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.