Missouri 4-H Dairy Judging Team First at North American

By CnAgri Print

Missouri 4-H was the high team in placings at the 2012 North American International Livestock Exposition Youth Dairy Judging Contest held in Louisville, Ky., according to Karla Deaver, 4-H youth development specialist.

The team finished fifth overall in the 22 team field. The team of Steven Nelson, Tucker Peterson and Bailee Whitehead averaged 47.4 out of 50 possible points over 10 classes.

"The team was very consistent both in their placings and with each other," said Deaver. "Only 4 points separated the three in placings. The lowest score any team member had on a class was 42 points. When oral reasons were added to their scores, only 14 points separated them. Our focus will now be on adding some polish to oral reasons the next 10 months in preparation for the National 4-H Contest next October."

Nelson, son of Mike Nelson of Grovespring, was 8th high individual overall in the contest. He was 9th in Holsteins, 19th in Ayrshires, 20th in Brown Swiss, 16th in Jerseys and 18th in Oral Reasons. Peterson, son of Janet Peterson of Mountain Grove, finished 17th overall and was 9th in Ayrshires and 20th in Guernseys. Whitehead, daugther of Tony and Nikki Whitehead of Conway, was 7th in Brown Swiss and 21st in Guernseys, finishing 24th overall.

The team was 3rd in Ayrshires, 6th in Brown Swiss and Holsteins, 8th in Guernseys and Jerseys, and 10th in Oral Reasons.

Contestants placed ten classes and gave three sets of reasons. The team is coached by Ted Probert, University of Missouri dairy specialist, and Karla Deaver, University of Missouri Extension 4-H youth development specialist headquartered in Wright and Lawrence counties respectively.