Claudia Baney, Extension Specialist
The State 4-H Livestock Judging competition was held Tuesday, June 6 at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Teams from across the state judged cattle, sheep and hog classes.
The Fentress County team of Rachel Bennett, Macy Waters, and Mckinley Waters came away with top honors and will represent Tennessee at the National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest, November 2017, in Louisville, Kentucky. The team is coached by agent John Gunter.
Lincoln County team consisting of Kendall Martin, Nathan Simmons, Olivia Hughes, and Juliann Fears was reserve champion team. Lincoln County is coached by agent Dan Owen.
Sponsors of the contest include: Tennessee Farmer’s Cooperative, Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association, Tennessee Pork Producers Association, Tennessee Sheep Producers Association, Merial, UT Block and Bridle and The University of Tennessee Department of Animal Science.
Thank you to all of our animal providers, Smoky Mountain Farm, Doug Venable, Joe Hall Club Lambs, Shanks Genetics, East Tennessee Research and Teaching Center, and the UT Animal Science Department.
A special thank you to Mr. Zach Bartenslager, Dr. Jason Smith, Dr. David Kirkpatrick, Mrs. Jessy Shanks and Mr. Nate Long for officiating the classes along with all the student volunteers, agents, coaches and staff who made the contest possible.
Results for the contests are as follows:
Livestock Judging (Team Results)
- Fentress County, 1,717 points
- Lincoln County, 1,715 points
- Henry County, Team A, 1,711 points
- Rutherford County, 1,665 points
- Hamblen County, 1,664 points
- Sumner County, 1,648 points
- Bedford County, 1,636 points
- Washington County, 1,592 points
- Henry County B Team, 1,521 points
Livestock Judging Overall High Individual
- McKinley Waters, Fentress, 596 points
- Kendall Martin, Lincoln, 590 points
- Jessica Hickerson, Rutherford, 586 points
- Katie Schultz, Henry, 579 points
- Macy Waters, Fentress, 579 points
Livestock Judging Individual Species Awards
- Beef – Katie Schultz, Henry County
- Sheep – Kendall Martin, Lincoln County
- Swine – Kendall Martin, Lincoln County
- Reasons – Katie Schultz, Henry County