Washington County 4-H livestock judging team prepares for Denver contest

Washington County 4-H livestock judging has bounced back into action at the top level of competition placing third at the State Livestock Judging Contest held at the Hansen Ag Student Learning Center in Ames early this summer.

This top honor for the senior team has earned them a seat to compete at the National Western Stock Show in Denver in January.

4-H’ers Carmen Sieren, Iris Peterson, Anna Nafziger and Greta Sieren make up the Denver team who have tightened their focus to prepare for the next level of competition.

“During the state competition, I was the most nervous I had ever been,” Carmen Sieren, a senior member of the Dutch Creek Flyers 4-H Club, said. “We went into competition as a team knowing we could do well.

“When the announcer called our name, I felt a huge sense of accomplishment and relief. We had worked so hard.”

This honor and success came after a new volunteer coaching team set some new goals a few years ago and motivated a group of 4-H’ers to get excited about this area of the livestock industry.

“We wanted to get a core group that was serious about getting better and being competitive,” coach Brandon Freel said. “Once we started seeing some success, the goal became a moving target.

“Our goal was to put Washington County back on the map not only in our area but in the state and nationally. The kids have worked really hard to make that dream become reality.”

Washington County 4-H’ers with a livestock judging interest have met every other week since January in preparation for the spring and summer contests.

During the winter months they met to learn terminology and focus on reasons.

In late spring, the frequency and intensity of practices picked up in preparation for the Washington County Fair contest.

Weekly workouts were held at Washington County producers and farms focusing on a different species each week.

“Livestock judging is a golden opportunity to learn about the livestock industry from those who know it best, livestock breeders and producers,” said coach Dustin Ford. “Most importantly, it’s a great way to meet others who share a similar passion for the industry and make lifelong friendships.

“Some of my closest friends today are those I shared this experience with 20 years ago.”

Livestock Judging is an activity that teaches the difference between livestock based on certain selection criteria, but additional outcomes is participants also develop critical thinking and public speaking skills so that they can give reasons and can defend a decision they have made.

This project area develops confidence and teamwork.

“Livestock judging doesn’t just help you learn about how to sort through animals, but also teaches you confidence and communication skills,” said Peterson, a member of the Washington Go Getters 4-H Club who has been a part of the team for two years. “I have learned a lot about livestock judging, and it’s terminology.

“When I started, I wasn’t that great at it, having no clue how to give reasons. My coaches helped me out a lot and continually pushed me to get better.”

The Iowa 4-H State Livestock Judging contest success was a goal to start this year and the Washington County 4-H junior and senior teams met their goals.

Results include:

• Senior Team of Carmen Sieren, Greta Sieren, Iris Peterson and Anna Nafziger: Third High Team Overall, third in Reasons, third in Beef, second in Sheep, fifth in Swine, third in Goats, fourth in Placings

• Carmen Sieren: Second High Individual, eighth in Reasons, fourth High in Beef, seventh in Sheep, fourth in Swine, second in Placings.

• Greta Sieren - 13th High Individual, ninth in Sheep, ninth in Swine, ninth in Goats, 12th in Placings.

• Iris Peterson - 14th in Sheep.

• Anna Nafziger - 12th in Reasons.

• Junior Team of Garrett Greiner, Brynn Younge, Charlotte Sieren and Peighton Ford: First Overall, fourth in Questions, second in Placings.

• Garrett Greiner: Eighth High Individual, 11th in Questions.

• Brynn Younge: Seventh in Questions.

• Junior Team 2 made of Brynn Northup, Jack Greiner and Ella Greiner: Seventh High Team Overall and 4th in Placings.

• Brynn Northup: Seventh High Individual, eighth in Questions, fourth in Placings.

Tradition runs strong in Washington County 4-H and so does success.

“I’m a firm believer in ‘success breeds success’ so the more success we can have early in our season and kids can have early in their experience, the more interest this program is going to gain,” Freel said.

The Washington County 4-H volunteer livestock judging coaching team is made up of Brandon Freel, Dustin Ford, Ted Greiner, and Chad Younge.

They coached anywhere from 10-40 kids at workouts January-August.

This year they are uniquely still working now through the fall and early winter to prepare for the National Western Stock Show in Denver.

“We are thankful to have such caring adults with a judging expertise who want to invest and teach our young people in this project area,” said Amy Green, Washington County 4-H/Youth coordinator. “This is a project area that develops great life skills of teamwork, confidence in decision making and public speaking.

“It says a lot about the youth in our county program who have been dedicated to those weekly workouts and learning and now we are extra excited for their success and next level of competition.”

As the team of four prepare for this national contest, they are also working to collect funds to cover registration and travel expenses to Denver in January.

They are interested in visiting area service organizations to talk more about livestock judging and sharing information about how groups or individuals can be sponsors of their trip.

Contact Amy Green at the Washington County Extension Office, 319-653-4811 or amygreen@iastate.edu, to find out more about how to support this team and their national contest.