Members compete in livestock judging

Approximately 175 4-H and FFA members from 17 counties competed in the Washington Co. Invitational Livestock Judging Contest held at the Washington Co. Livestock Center on March 14.  The annual event is sponsored by the Washington County Fair Board and conducted by the local 4-H and FFA programs.  The contest, held at the Washington County Livestock Center, is the first to be held each year to help prepare youth statewide for livestock judging competition.

Livestock evaluation is designed to assist students in developing the skill of visually appraising livestock species (cattle, hogs, and sheep).  Livestock evaluation helps youth to become more familiar with the livestock industry, develop leadership and speaking abilities, and to develop a competitive spirit.

A special thanks goes to those who provided the livestock for the contest.  

Each year, over $600 in plaques, ribbons and cash awards are presented to the top competitors.  See the special ad this week that highlights the sponsors of the contest that make it possible to award the plaques, ribbons and cash to the top participants.

Also contributing to the contest was the Washington Co. Cattleman’s Association who prepared the meal along with Washington Co. Livestock parents who served the meal.  The stockyards provided the drinks for the meal.

Top awards this year went to counties such as Spencer, Clark, Washington and Harrison Counties.

In the junior competition, ages 9-13, Washington Co. 4-H took top honors in the beef division.  Winning first place team were Stephen Bland, Matthew Benedict, Valerie Mitchell and Taylor Blandford.  Overall beef awards included fifth place – Stephen Bland, seventh place – Matthew Benedict and ninth place – Valerie Mitchell.  

In the junior swine division, Taylor Blandford was seventh place individual.

The overall junior awards were close with Washington Co. 4-H winning second place team overall.  Members of the team were Taylor Blandford, Valerie Mitchell, Stephen Bland and Michael Cambron.  Overall individual junior awards included seventh  place – Taylor Blandford and tenth place Valerie Mitchell.

Other Washington Co. junior 4-H members participating were Jacob Graves, Emilee Graves, Alex Mattingly and Keri Jo Hodge.

In the senior category, Washington County FFA also came out on top in the beef division.  Washington Co. FFA members on the top beef team were Russell Hardin, Corey Hupman, Samantha Ross and Brittany Wells. Placing individually in the beef category was second place – Russell Hardin, seventh place – Corey Hupman and ninth place Samantha Ross.

FFA member, Brittany Wells was the ninth place individual in the senior sheep division and 4-H member, Farriah Mattingly placed ninth in the reasons division.

Also competing were Michael Benedict, Austin Cambron, Anne Taylor Simms, Amber Fields and Nicole Wheatley.  

Congratulations to the Washington County 4-H and FFA members for their accomplishments.