Competitive livestock judging involves more than just sorting livestock. Menifee County 4-H members are stepping onto local farms and livestock arenas to showcase their critical thinking, animal science knowledge, and ability to make tough decisions, along with the confidence and communication skills needed to support their judgments.

Youth from throughout Kentucky gathered in Lexington on May 31 to put their animal evaluation skills to the test at the state 4-H Livestock Judging Contest.  Menifee County 4-H had a senior Judging team and a junior participant in the state contest. Approximately 120 young people participated in the event, which required competitors to judge up to 12 distinct classes of cattle, pigs, goats, and sheep.

Livestock judging participants learn not only how to assess the animals’ physical qualities, such as body confirmation and balance, but also how to prioritize these traits based on breeding significance and market value. Contestants are also asked to consider how well the animals would perform in real-world situations, which might require them to adjust their evaluations according to a producer’s specific needs. At more advanced levels, competitors interpret performance data in the form of expected progeny differences (EPDs) and use it to incorporate predicted performance of the animals’ offspring into their evaluations.

In addition to sharpening their analytical skills, young people involved in livestock judging improve their ability to think quickly, develop a strong memory of visual details, and respectfully consider different perspectives—skills that will benefit them in future careers, both within and outside of agriculture.