Posted: November 30, 2023
Pennsylvania 4-H members recently competed at the National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest, held at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. The team ranked ninth in overall scores in the contest.
L to R: Chad Dechow, Brooke Walker, Adam Ballard, Ainsley Sellers, and AJ Wanner. Photo credit: Chad Dechow.
Teams from 20 states competed. Pennsylvania's team members included Ainsley Sellers, of Lebanon County; Brooke Walker, of York County; AJ Wanner, of Lancaster County; and Adam Ballard, of Mercer County. The team was selected from the top-ranking contestants at the Pennsylvania 4-H Dairy Judging Contest held in June. Chad Dechow, associate professor of dairy cattle genetics in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, served as the team's coach.
In judging contests, participants evaluate and rank groups of animals of the same species, providing oral justifications for their rankings. The contests also involve public speaking, as participants must memorize these explanations and deliver them to a contest official.
"Participating in what we call animal science knowledge contests certainly teaches youth about their 4-H animal science projects and increases their knowledge level about those projects," said Kirsten Dubbs, 4-H animal science specialist with Penn State Extension.
"In addition, these contests provide opportunities to learn and practice a host of other life skills," she continued. "Participants in knowledge contests practice decision-making and teamwork and become adept at evaluating on the fly. They also practice their public speaking skills and have the opportunity to work on memorization and recall.”
According to the event website, the World Dairy Expo serves as the meeting place of the global dairy industry, bringing together the latest in dairy innovation and the best cattle in North America.
The Pennsylvania Livestock Association provides financial support to 4-H teams traveling for these types of contests. A Pennsylvania 4-H livestock judging endowment provides additional funding.
Administered in Pennsylvania by Penn State Extension, 4-H is a nonformal educational youth-development program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that helps young people develop knowledge and skills to become capable, caring and contributing citizens. To find your local program, visit the Pennsylvania 4-H website.
