4-H Livestock Judging Project

Are You Into It?

The 4-H Livestock judging project allows youth the opportunity to learn about animal selection, evaluation, breed character, production factors, marketing, and careers within the livestock industry. Youth learn the principles of animal science and gain life skills, such as decision- making, by evaluating and communicating animal differences based on their functionality for producing high quality products and offspring to meet market demand.

Youth will increase their public speaking skills by learning how to prepare a logical, coherent set of reasons which they will present to a qualified judge.

The Livestock Judging program offers 4-H members the opportunity to participate in competitions at the county, district, state, national, and international levels.

The Virginia 4-H Livestock Judging team finished first in their national contest, which was held in November at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky. As a result of its national championship, the team was eligible to represent the U.S. in the Livestock Judging Contest at the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh, Scotland. While in Europe, the team had the opportunity to tour farms and livestock operations in England, Ireland, and Scotland.

 The activities listed are to inspire further project development.

Expand Your Experience: Pass it On!

Now that you know more about your project, share it with others. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Communication

The ability to make good decisions is a skill that has to be developed through practice and is one of the most important skills for success that anyone can have. Livestock judging provides an opportunity for 4-H members to develop their decision-making skillsand to communicate the reasoning behind theirdecisions to industry professionals while evaluatinglivestock.The ability to critically think to make decisions and effectively communicate orally the reasoning behind these decisions are a skill set which will benefit the 4-H member throughout their professional career.

Leadership

Become a role model for others by taking a leadership role in the livestock industry through encouraging other youth to participate in local livestock judging events or joining a local animal industry association and participating in meetings and events.Attend or establish a Virginia Quality Assurance training program in your county with the Virginia Cooperative Extension service and your local agent.

Citizenship

Develop a display for your county fair that will inform the public about livestock breeds and market products. Work with your local agricultural extension agent to offer a workshop for local producers on on low stress handling and animal husbandry.

Healthy Living

Participate in a 4-H Food Challenge event, such as the Virginia Beef Challenge, where youth members give a short presentation demonstrating a recipe, including: preparation steps, giving nutrition information, and presenting the food safety practices that they followed when preparing the dish. Design and create an exhibit that features cuts of meat and their anatomical origin or develop a list of recipes utilizing local sources of protein.

STEM

In cooperation with a trained volunteer, utilize a handheld ultrasound instrument to determine back fat and loin depth measurements. Youth may work with a local vet to determine if there is a fetus present in breeding stock. Evaluate performance data to select the appropriate animals for a given scenario.Work with a local producer to enhance your understanding of beef, goat, sheep, and swine anatomy and physiology.