Manatee and Citrus County 4-H Members Compete in National Western Livestock Judging Contest

The National Western Stock Show and Rodeo is currently taking place in Denver, among all of the events that the nation's premier stock show holds every year is the Western National Roundup for 4-H and FFA members across the nation. This year, Florida had representatives in the Livestock Judging contest!

Manatee and Citrus County 4-H Members Compete in Western National Roundup 4-H Livestock Judging Contest

Floridians may not be used to the cold or below 40 degree temperatures,but that was no problem for four Florida 4-H Youth Development Program members representing the Sunshine State in this year's Western National Roundup 4-H Livestock Judging Contest held in Denver, Colorado from January 7th-9th.

Team members included Casey Wingate, Kirstin Duryea, and James Ference from UF IFAS Extension Manatee County 4-H and Kylie Phillips from Citrus County 4-H with coach Tamara Wingate. The team placed 7th in Goats, 8th in Swine, 9th in Beef, 7th in Placings, and 9th Overall with 27 teams and 102 individuals competing. Wingate also placed as 9th High Individual in Goats, 9th High Individual in Placings, and as 15th High Individual Overall. Duryea was 30th High Individual Overall and Phillips was 42nd High Individual Overall.

Congratulations to these outstanding youth from Manatee and Citrus County for placing as the state runner up team and high individual overall at last year's state 4-H livestock judging contest. Livestock judging is an event that tests the evaluation and decision making skills of individuals to evaluate breeding and market cattle, swine, sheep, and goats as well as the defense of placings via oral reasons.

Full results are available on the Western National Roundup website at http://www.westernnationalroundup.org/results-2015.aspx.

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​(Photo Courtesy of the Western National Roundup)