Livestock judging creates a lifetime of connections

My favorite 4-H memory was when Ford County 4-H won third place at the Kansas State Fair livestock judging contest in 1994. We later went on to judge at the American Royal Livestock Show & Rodeo, where we ended up third overall and won the beef division. The following year Ford County 4-H won the Kansas state livestock judging contest and competed at the North American International Livestock Exposition 4-H livestock judging contest in Louisville, Kentucky.

Since my own kids have been in 4-H, I’ve been able to get them involved with livestock judging and have taken the team to practices and a couple of contests. I’ve reiterated to them how important it is to be able to evaluate livestock and pick out the best animals and then tell someone why. Plus, experiencing new counties, livestock and connections made with other 4-Her’s is priceless. Plus, livestock judging paid for my first two years of college.  I still see former teammates and connections made through 4-H. More than once, I’ve had to answer, “who was that?” My reply, “I used to judge with them.”