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State of Iowa 4-H and FFA Livestock Judging Contest

By Dr. Chris Cassady, Livestock Judging Coach

Competition ran extremely deep at the Jeff and Deb Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center as nearly 400 contestants participated in the 2016 Iowa State 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging Contest. Contestants are asked to evaluate and rank classes of 4 meat animals and then defend their placings to an official judge via oral reasons. This year, we are proud to announce the individual and team winners of the 4-H and FFA Division. In the Junior 4-H division, the high individual was Austin Foss of Worth County. High Team in the Jr. 4-H Division was Sac County; team members included: Justin Rupnow, Levi Steinkamp, Cale Niehaus, and Aden Vondrak. High individual in the Sr. 4-H division was Jeb Schwagger from Jackson County. The winning Sr. 4-H team was Muscatine County; and team members included: Tiffany Tomlin, Alyssa Scholz, Tyler DeMoeller, and Ryan Calvert. We wish Muscatine County the best of luck as they will represent the state of Iowa at the National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest this year at the North American in Louisville, KY. The FFA division was well represented in the contest, boasting the high team and individual in the contest. Justin Swanton was named high individual and his fellow state champion team members include: Collin Swanton and Cassidy Jacobsen. We wish the Goose Lake team the best of luck as they will travel to the National FFA Convention and represent the state of Iowa in the National FFA Livestock Evaluation CDE. Thank you to all who participated and helped put on a great event!