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View event Press Release.
The 2024 Kansas 4-H Livestock Sweepstakes was hosted by the Kansas State University Department of Animal Sciences and Industry on August 17-18 in Weber Hall. Almost 300 4-H members from 66 counties participated in the state livestock judging contest, meat judging contest, livestock skillathon, and livestock quiz bowl.
The champion teams for the livestock skillathon and livestock quiz bowl earned the opportunity to represent Kansas at their respective national 4-H contest, which all will occur later this fall. Again this year, Kansas will be represented by an all-star team at the national 4-H livestock judging contest in Louisville. Based on their performance in the state livestock judging contest, a talented group of young people were invited to advance to the team selection process. This will include a series of livestock evaluation workshops and opportunities provided by the K-State Livestock Judging Team. This will be the fourth year for the meats judging kids to have a similar opportunity. Kansas will also be represented by an all-star team to defend their 2022 and 2023 titles at the national 4-H meat judging contest.
Individual 4-H members and county or extension district teams who participated in all of the livestock activities this weekend were entered in the Kansas 4-H Livestock Sweepstakes. The combined top performer in the livestock judging contest, livestock skillathon, and meat judging contest was recognized as the individual champion. This year, there were 47 young people eligible for the Livestock Sweepstakes Award. The team exhibiting the best combined performance in livestock judging, livestock skillathon, livestock quiz bowl, and meat judging won the overall team sweepstakes award with 10 teams competing for award. There were 199 kids in the livestock judging, 110 meat judgers, 156 in the skillathon, and 16 teams in the quiz bowl.
This event would not be possible without the numerous Department of Animal Sciences and Industry faculty, staff, graduate students, and undergraduate students who volunteered their time and expertise. Two groups in particular are essential to this event; Payton Dahmer and the K-State Livestock Judging Team members and graduate assistants, as well as Dr. Travis O’Quinn, Erin Beyer, and the K-State Meats Judging Team members, and graduate students put a significant amount of time and effort into developing high quality contests for the 4-H members. A special thanks also goes to Tim Carson for his hard work and expertise in scoring and tabulating all of the contests. Other faculty members who were vital to the success of this event were Kelsey Bentley, Mike Brouk, Joel DeRouchey, Karol Fike, David Grieger, Cassie Jones, Chris Mullinix, Megan Rolf, Mike Tokach, Jason Warner, and Bob Weaber. Staff members Angie Denton, Janeen Dieball, Emily Grund, Katie Smith, Kevin Snell, Rachael Stadel, and John Wolf, as well as graduate students Sierra Collier, Elizabeth Dressler, Abigail Jenkins, and Rafe Royall. We also had a tremendous set of undergraduate students, ASI Mentors, members of the K-State Collegiate Cattlewomen, and Block & Bridle who provided great assistance to help all of the contests run smoothly. Interns, Peyton Piepho and Lauren Thompson were instrumental in preparing materials for several contests, as well as working to make sure each part of the event was a great experience for all of the youth involved. Kelsey Nordyke also represented the state 4-H office while assisting with the event, and Mary Kane from Kansas FFA contributed her time as volunteers as well. The Lyons Ranch Family, Kansas Pork Association, Kansas Beef Council, Kansas State University College of Agriculture, AgTech, FarmTalk, and Judd Ranch, are great supporters and sponsors of this program. Thanks to everyone involved!