DUQUOIN, Ill. – The cold weather didn't keep 126 local FFA and 4-H members from gathering at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds for a livestock judging contest in early March. Livestock judging is the evaluation of an animal's characteristics and making a comparison to other animals and the ideal standard of that particular class.

For 4-H, prizes were awarded to the top three scores within the junior and senior categories. For FFA, this event is the section 24 judging contest. Twelve counties were represented at the event. The 2023 winners included:

FFA Livestock Judging Team
First place – Sesser-Valier FFA
Second place – Anna Jonesboro FFA
Third place – Country Roads FFA

FFA Livestock (Individual Competition)
First place – Tony Kistner (Sesser-Valier FFA)
Second place – Hayden Shearer (Elverado FFA)
Third place – Ryleigh Taylor (Country Roads FFA)

FFA Dairy Judging Team
First place – Goreville FFA
Second place – Okawville FFA
Third place – Crab Orchard FFA

FFA Dairy (Individual Competition)
First place – Michael Green (Goreville  FFA)
Second place –  Abby Brenfleck (Okawville FFA)
Third place – Dawson Cloud (Goreville FFA)

4-H Junior Livestock Team
First place – Perry County 4-H (Lucky Clovers)
Second place – Washington County 4-H (Green Team)
Third place – Country Roads 4-H

4-H Senior Livestock Team
First place – Franklin County 4-H
Second place – Perry County 4-H
Third place – Jackson County 4-H

4-H Junior Livestock (Individual Competition)
First place – Avery Kellerman (Perry County 4-H)
Second place – Jett Spence (visiting 4-H member from Oklahoma)
Third place – Kaleb Kellerman (Perry County 4-H)

4-H Senior Livestock (Individual Competition)
First place – Tony Kistner (Franklin County 4-H)
Second place – Colton Payne (Franklin County 4-H)
Third place – Logan Lehde (Randolph County 4-H)

4-H Junior Dairy (Individual Competition)
First place – Tyler Lilienkamp (Washington County 4-H)
Second place – Jameson Rathert (Perry County 4-H)

4-H Senior Dairy (Individual Competition)
First place – Rylie Robinson (Jackson County 4-H)
Second place – Kendra Guetersloh (Jackson County 4-H)
Third place –  Lily Helbig (Washington County 4-H)

The event teaches youth how to evaluate livestock that will enter the food system, and many of the participating youth will go on to showcase their own livestock at local fairs this summer. For more information on how to get involved with 4-H in your community, visit 4h.extension.illinois.edu.

Writer: Heather Willis, marketing and communications coordinator, hdwillis@illinois.edu, (618) 357-2126

Source: Rhonda Shubert, 4-H Extension program coordinator, rkshuber@illinois.edu, (618) 357-2126

About 4-H: Illinois 4-H helps youth learn skills for living. University of Illinois Extension provides 4-H programs in every county in Illinois. Illinois 4-H impacts the lives of 200,000 youth each year through sustained learning clubs and groups and short-term programming.