Keokuk County 4-H Youth compete at Iowa Pork Youth Judging Contest

SIGOURNEY – Keokuk County 4-H members Sawyer, Madison, Nora, and Jack represented the county at the 2025 Iowa Pork Youth Judging Contest, showcasing their livestock evaluation skills among strong competition from across the state.

The team placed 14th out of 51 junior teams, and Jack earned an impressive 11th place individually out of 198 participants.

Throughout the contest, youth learned about pork production from start to finish. They observed a carcass fabrication demonstration sponsored by Smithfield Foods, evaluated live hogs for market and breeding qualities, and tested their knowledge of Iowa’s pork industry, meat quality, and production practices.

“This contest gives youth the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in 4-H to real-world agriculture,” said Ashley Yedlik, Keokuk County Youth Coordinator. “We’re proud of the way they represented Keokuk County.”

The Iowa Pork Youth Judging Contest is hosted annually by the Iowa Pork Producers Association to help youth build skills in animal evaluation, decision making, and communication while deepening their understanding of the pork industry.

For more information about joining 4-H, how to become a sponsor, or how to volunteer for Keokuk County 4-H, please contact the Keokuk County Extension Office at 641/622-2680. Follow “Iowa State University Extension: Keokuk County” on Facebook.