By LINDSEY BELL HAYES

Decatur County 4H Coordinator

Decatur County’s 4-H junior and senior livestock judging teams captured fourth place at the State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest, held at the University of Georgia’s Animal & Dairy Science Instructional Arena in Athens, Ga., on March 24.

Junior team members participating in the competition included Miller Hayes, Griffin Long, Anders Austinson and Heath Parker. Anders Austinson was honored with fifth-overall junior individual. Heath Parker received seventh-overall junior individual honors, as well as fourth place in junior reasons.

Senior team members placing fourth in the contest were Charley Rayfield, Stennes Austinson, Josiah Austinson and Levi Adkins.

At the state competition, the 4-H’ers matched judging skills against other teams and individuals from across the state.  The junior team judged two classes of beef cattle, two classes of swine, one class of goats and one class of lambs.  Each class contained four animals and each team member placed them according to the proper characteristics of breeding or market animals. To support their decisions, each junior member gave oral reasons for their placement of the animals for two classes.  Students also answered a set of questions, based on their observations, for a class of market hogs.

Senior competitors judged eight classes: three classes of beef cattle, two classes of swine, two classes of lambs and one class of goats. To support their decisions, each senior member gave oral reasons for their placement of animals for four classes. Seniors also answered a set of questions, based on their observations for a class of market hogs.

The county’s 4-H’ers have been practicing diligently since November in preparation for the contest. Through their participation in livestock judging, these youth have practiced important life skills including goal setting, decision making, communication, teamwork, contribution to group effort, self motivation, critical thinking, problem solving, planning, organizing, keeping records, and cooperation.

The 4-H program is the youth program of the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. For more information, call the UGA Cooperative Extension Service at (229) 248-3033, or visit Georgia 4-H on the web at www.georgia4h.org.