A newer group of Greene County 4-H’ers are continuing their education and competition journeys after one contest in December, followed by their next one this Saturday.

Greene County ISU Extension 4-H and Youth Coordinator Samantha Hardaway says the senior livestock judging team of Hanna Fouch, Chloe Julick, Breanna Pope, and Paisley Lautner went to Stewart, Nebraska in December to an individual competition at Colby Burch’s farm where everyone finished in the top ten.

“They did a fantastic job! They were able to meet livestock judging teams from all over the country. There was kids from New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, (and) there was one another team from Iowa. So it was just a really great experience for them to connect with other people that are just as passionate about livestock judging as they are.”     

Hardaway details the next contest is this Saturday at the Iowa Beef Expo and several more 4-H’ers are planning to be there. She points out that since a workshop was held in January, more 4-H’ers have joined livestock judging. 

“We have some new faces, we have some familiar faces returning, but they are practicing once a week, whether it be a Sunday or a Thursday. They started in January, so they will keep practicing up until the state competition, the first week of May.”    

Hardaway adds the junior 4-H team going Saturday include Jaelyn and Jentry Hedges, Jerzee McDonald, and Stella Lautner, along with Briella McDonald and Maddie Carstens competing as individuals. She says the senior 4-H’ers that will be there include Lautner and Julick.