Washington County 4-H’s growing resurgence in livestock judging was exemplified earlier this month at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado.

The senior livestock judging team of Carmen and Greta Sieren, Iris Peterson, and Anna Nafziger were only five points away from placing in the top 10, earning 13th place overall among teams representing 20 states across the country. Livestock judging is an activity that teaches the difference between livestock based on certain selection criteria, which develops critical thinking and public speaking skills in judging and oral reasoning.

The Washington County team punched their ticket to the national competition with a third place finish last summer at the state 4-H judging contest, and they braved a snowstorm on their way to Denver with volunteer coach Brandon Freel, toured Colorado’s largest volume feed dealer, met Colorado exhibitors at the stock show and even made some southeast Iowa connections. Freel says while the team may not have achieved the end result they hoped for, they already look forward to the next season planning spring farm visits and hosting winter workouts every other weekend. Freel and other livestock judging coaches Dustin Ford, Ted Greiner, and Chad Younge coached anywhere from 10-40 kids from January to August last year.