Ohio 4-H Members Compete in National Livestock Judging Contests

By: Courtney Fulton

The top three senior teams from the 2018 Ohio State Fair Livestock Judging Contest earned opportunities to represent Ohio 4-H and compete at national livestock judging contests. This year, 4-H members from Marion, Warren, and Wood counties recently competed at national events in 3 different states! Ohio also fielded an “All-Star” team of top judgers from across the state to represent Ohio 4-H at the National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest in Louisville, Kentucky. Congratulations to our outstanding youth and their coaches for their hard work! 

National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest

The Ohio 4-H Livestock Judging All-Star Team represented Ohio 4-H at the National Livestock Judging Contest during the North American International Livestock Exhibition in Louisville, Kentucky. Team members included Jenna Siegel, Josh Strine, Katie Feldmann, and Karter Converse. The All-Star Team was coached by Greg Meyer, placed 5^th overall, and received several top 20 placings, including: Jenna Siegel: 10^th Overall, 3^rd in Sheep/Goats, 8^th in Oral Reasons; Karter Converse: 20^th Overall, 6^th in Sheep/Goats; Team: 1^st in Sheep/Goats, 6^th in Beef,
10^th in Oral Reasons

Marion County 4-H’ers Compete at Aksarben Contest

4-H members Anna Heimlich, Jenna Siegel, Josh Strine, and Trinity Smith, led by coach JoAnn Fogle, competed in the Aksarben Livestock Judging Contest in Nebraska. The team judged 12 classes of livestock and defended their placings with oral reasons against over 400 students from 22 states who competed in the contest. The team placed 18^th overall, and Jenna Siegel placed 11^th overall.

Additional placings include: 
Jenna Siegel: 5^th in Oral Reasons, 13^th in Swine, 20^th in Beef
Team: 10^th in Swine, 11^th in Oral Reasons, 17^th in Beef

Warren County 4-H’ers Compete at American Royal Contest

4-H members Caroline Bensman, Alyssa Carter, Jera Jordan, Katie Feldmann, and Logan Heitzman, and their coach Greg Meyer, participated in the American Royal Livestock Judging Contest in Missouri. The team received top 15 placings in all categories, with additional top 20 placings by Jera Jordan and Alyssa Carter! Detailed placings include:

Jera Jordan: 17^th in Sheep/Goats 
Alyssa Carter: 20^th in Beef 
Team: 14^th Overall, 12^th in Swine, 12^th in Beef, 13^th in Sheep/Goats, 13^th in Oral Reasons 

Wood County 4-H’ers Compete at Southeastern Contest

The 4-H Livestock Judging Team from Wood County competed in the Southeastern Livestock Judging Contest in North Carolina. Team members included Ashlyn O’Brien, Kylie O’Brien, Owen Brinker, Sydney Mazey, and coach Ivan Belleville. The team placed 2^nd overall in the contest. Top 20 results include:

Kylie O’Brien: 4^th Overall, 4^th in Swine, 9^th in Cattle, 14^th in Sheep
Sydney Mazey: 5^th Overall, 2^nd in Cattle, 8^th in
Sheep, 8^th in Oral Reasons
Ashlyn O’Brien: 8^th Overall, 3^rd in Sheep, 7^th in Goats, 12^th in Swine
Team: 3^rd in Sheep, 3^rd in Swine, 6^th in Cattle, 8^th in Goats, 8^th in Oral Reasons

Thank you to the Mildred and Harold Hart 4-H Endowment Fund, Ohio Rural Electric, Rural King, and Ohio State University Extension - 4-H Youth Development for helping to sponsor travel for our top senior teams. 

Contact: Dustin Homan, 4-H Program Manager, homan.64@osu.edu, 614.247.8305