Goodhue County 4-H’s General Livestock Judging Team Places 10th at nationals

By: Amy Gergen, Goodhue County 4-H Program Coordinator
Congratulations to Goodhue County 4-H’s General Livestock Judging Team! Eight 4-Hers and two adult volunteers left Tuesday, January 3 to travel to Denver for the Western National Roundup. The judging contest was held Saturday, January 7. The group attended the Livestock Expo on Sunday and returned to Minnesota on Monday.
Goodhue County 4-H’s competing team included Ryan Stehr of Zumbrota, Kelsey Glaess of Cannon Falls, Ellin Stolp of Oronoco and Taylor Waugh of Goodhue. Joining the team were alternates Stacey Glaess of Cannon Falls and Kendrah Schafer of Goodhue and guests Madison Schafer of Goodhue and Emalie Stolp of Oronoco. 4-H Adult Volunteers Pat Glaess of Cannon Falls and Coach LeeAnn Waugh of Goodhue chaperoned the trip.
“This experience was phenomenal!” 4-H Adult Volunteer Pat Glaess said after returning home from chaperoning the trip. “This trip was a phenomenal opportunity to watch these kids lead, learn from each other, grow in skills, develop friendships together and have fun… I would do it all over again.”
Along the way, the group stopped in Brookings, SD and Lincoln, NE to practice and sharpen their judging skills at local farms and tour a few college campuses.
Glaess spoke of the team’s growth throughout the trip and how each person advanced in their skills. “They especially grew with their ability to give reasons and put what they evaluated into words effectively,” Glaess said.
For some of the group, this was their first traveling experience outside of Minnesota. They even got to take a break from practicing to enjoy the scenery at Este Park in Colorado.
Much thanks goes to 4-H Adult Volunteer LeeAnn Waugh, who coached the team all summer and led them to this point. She organized the many practices, provided opportunities to practice at the University of Minnesota and local farms prior to the trip, planned the trip’s itinerary and coordinated fund-raising for the trip.
“There’s not a word to describe LeeAnn’s commitment with the kids,” Glaess said.
4-H Livestock Judging Contest Results…
§ Competing against more than 20 teams, Goodhue County 4-H placed 3rd in sheep placings, 5th overall for sheep, 10th in swine reasons, 10th overall for reasons, and 10th place in the final standings.
§ Ellin Stolp placed 2nd in swine placings, 6th in goat placings, 10th overall for goats, 16th overall for swine, and 27th in sheep placings.
§ Kelsey Glaess placed 14th overall for beef, 14th overall for swine, 16th in beef reasons, 17th in swine reasons, 20th overall for reasons.
§ Ryan Stehr placed 5th in sheep placings, 15th overall for sheep, and 20th overall for placings.
§ Taylor Waugh placed 10th in sheep placings, 22nd in sheep reasons, 11th overall for sheep, 26th in goat placings and 31st overall for goats.
Much thanks goes to the individuals and businesses who sponsored the Goodhue County 4-H General Livestock’s trip to the national competition this year. Sponsors include: Ag Partners Co-op, AgStar Financial Services, Anderson Veterinary Service, Aspelund Ever Readies 4-H Club, Belle Creek Peppy Peppers 4-H Club, Gary and Tamra Berg, Cannon Valley Ranch, Cannondale Farms, Cargill, Inc., Central Livestock Association Zumbrota Market, Central Valley Co-op, Cherry Grove Busy Gophers 4-H Club, Dairyland Beef Producers Association, Goodhue County Cooperative Electric, Hay Creek Pioneers 4-H Club, Horizon Milling LLC, Katie Mack, Minnesota Select Sires, River Country Cooperative, Sammelson Club Lambs, Schafer Farms of Goodhue, Inc., Security State Bank of Kenyon, Stolp Quality Repair, Neil and Margaret Stolp, Voxland Bros. and Wabasha Co Cattlemans Assn. Now that is a lot of support for Goodhue County 4-Hers!
4-H youth across the nation are leading efforts to solve problems in their communities and make a difference for their futures. 4-H is one of the largest youth development organizations in Minnesota and the largest in the nation with six million young people. 4-H in Goodhue County claims 700 youth members, about 12% of the youth population, and 300 adult volunteers. It is ranked the 3rd largest county 4-H program in Minnesota. 4-H, as part of the University of Minnesota Extension, is a program where youth learn through opportunities that provide them hands-on experiences in 4-H’s mission mandates of science, engineering and technology; healthy living; and citizenship. The program promotes life skills using your head, heart, hands and health. 4-H has connected youth and their communities with the innovative research and resources from our nation’s 106 land-grant universities and colleges for more than 100 years.
To find out more information about 4-H, or to locate a 4-H club in your area, visit the Goodhue County 4-H website at www.extension.umn.edu/county/goodhue and click on 4-H in Goodhue County, or contact Goodhue County 4-H at the Goodhue County Extension Office at 651-385-3100, 1-800-385-3101 or mnext-goodhue@umn.edu.