Posted: July 25, 2024
Pennsylvania 4-H'ers recently competed in animal science knowledge contests at Penn State’s University Park campus. Youth aged 10-18 participated in events such as the dairy bowl, horse bowl, hippology contest, livestock skillathon, and rabbit and cavy bowl and skillathon. They also competed in animal judging events for dairy, horse and livestock and in a new meat judging contest for seniors.
"These events deepen youths' knowledge of their 4-H project interests," said Kirsten Dubbs, Penn State Extension 4-H animal science specialist. "Our dedicated 4-H volunteers make these contests possible for the youth. Volunteers spend a great deal of time mentoring, coaching, helping youth to learn the ropes and helping them to develop knowledge and skills."
Participants apply knowledge in animal care, health, biosecurity, quality assurance, ethics, and communication. Skillathons involve practical problem-solving, while bowls focus on expanding knowledge through rounds of questions.
In animal judging contests, youth learn about animal conformation and breed standards. "They evaluate animals and justify their placings to contest officials, enhancing public speaking and critical thinking skills," Dubbs said.
Junior participants are 10-13 years old, and seniors are 14-18 years old.
Bowl and Skillathon Results
In the dairy bowl, first place went to the senior team of Case Barkley, Owen Brofee, Benjamin Cornman, Gregory Loy, and Olivia Neff, of Perry County. The winning junior team was comprised of Ethan Hoffman, Lathyn Stern, and Charleigh Touchton, of Lancaster County.
The hippology contest awarded first place to the senior team of Sydney Arena, Cloey Barrick, Aubrey McBride, and Ava McBride, of Cumberland County. Aubrey McBride also won first place in the senior individual competition.
In the horse bowl, the team of Madilyn Burket, Madeline Glaize, Drew McGraw, and Emma Mershimer, of Lawrence County, won the senior division.
The Lawrence County team of Makayla Burket, Bridger London, Jaesa McGraw, and Riley McGraw earned first place in the junior category.
For the senior livestock skillathon, the Berks County team of Samuel Lazarus, Danica Rhoads, Carlee Stitzel, and Phoebe Stutzman earned first place. Stutzman won the senior individual category. In the junior division, the team of Sage Frankenfield, Daniel Kelly, and Eliorah Thacker, of Montgomery County, earned first place. Thacker earned first place in the individual rankings.
The rabbit and cavy bowl awarded first place to the Crawford County team of Emma Covert, Emma Kennerknecht, Megan Yursic, and Rachel Yursic.
In the rabbit and cavy skillathon, Frances McCloskey, of Bucks County, earned first place in the junior individual category. Sarah Bupp, of Butler County, won first place in the senior individual division.
Animal Judging Results
Below are the results for each contest:
Dairy judging:
— First place to the senior team of Brooke King, Hannah King, Leah Reed, and Morgan Smoker, of Mifflin County.
— First place to senior individual Morgan Smoker, of Mifflin County.
— First place to the junior team of Aubree Kitzmiller, Blake Snyder, and Cooper Wilk, of Lycoming County.
— First place to junior individual McKinleigh Mase, of Mercer County.
Horse judging:
— First place to the senior team of Shelvia Esbenshade-Fritz, Olivia Sewalk, and Christy Snyder, of Bedford County.
— First place to senior individual Olivia Sewalk, of Bedford County.
— First place to the junior team of Makayla Burket, Jaesa McGraw, and Riley McGraw, of Lawrence County. Jaesa McGraw also ranked first in the junior individual category.
— First place to the beginner team of Adele Hohn, Richelle Jones, Reed Messer, and Hialeah Stanton, of Butler County. Hohn won the beginner individual category as well.
Livestock judging:
— First place to the senior team of Clayton Heisey, Ethan Risser, and Phoebe Stutzman, of Lebanon County.
— Georgia Horosky, of Chester County, ranked first as a senior individual.
— First place to the junior team of Russell Bard, Sheridan McGargle, and Sawyer Werner, of Huntingdon County.
— First place to junior individual Haylee Coble, of Dauphin County.
Meat judging:
— First place to the senior team of Mitchell Brown, Alexa Hoke, Jenna Myers, and Jessica Myers, of York County. Jenna Myers also earned first place in the senior individual category.
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.
