Fundraising Begins To Send Clay 4-H Livestock Judging Team To Nationals

The Clay County 4-H Livestock Judging Team needs help getting to the national competition in Kansas City, Missouri.

4-H Extension Agent Kristen Rich said the first fundraiser to reach the goal of $8,000 will be a pork loin lunch on August 6. Rich said the team placed in the state competition and has a tough test ahead of them at the American Royal Livestock Show.

“The team members evaluate four different species of livestock; cattle, swine, sheep and goat,” Rich said. “Basically they are placing in classes of one through four. So they’re picking the best one and going down to the worst quality in the class.”

Rich said these are the same high quality animals that get selected for either breeding or eating. Rich said it is not as simple as just picking an animal, she said if the team wants to win they have to go more in-depth.

“The kids learn skills such as fast decision making and they also have a communication aspect,” Rich said. “Where they give their reasons to a set of judges and their reasons are why they place those animals in the order they place them in.”

Rich said this competition builds a key skill to a future in agriculture and animal production. She said that the county has a tradition of rallying behind its kids when they have a chance to shine on the national stage.

“It’s extremely special, especially to these young people, to make it a national contest,” Rich said. “They are super excited and everyone in Clay County is so, so proud of them. They have worked really hard in preparing for the contest.”

The pork loin lunch starts at 11:00 AM at the Women’s Building on the Clay County Fairgrounds. Plates are $10 and Clay County businesses can pre-order their lunch by calling.