Hopkins County 4-H brings 3rd Place in District for

Dairy judging at the 2012 Ft Worth Livestock Show

By Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources

It was a beautiful Sunday morning at the Livestock Show in Ft Worth last week. Just cold enough to be optimal, cattle handlers and judges were ready promptly at 7:45 am to begin the contest. Every year, both FFA and 4-H members get together to participate at the Dairy Judging Contest in Ft Worth Texas. This year I got the opportunity to participate both as a ring master for the Seniors and superintendent for District 4. Four exemplary cows on each breed and each category got presented to the youth who must judge the animals and present the reasons afterward to judges during the contest. The Hopkins County 4-H senior team coached by Amy Bowen from Como Texas got 3rd place on District 4. The contest, a very competitive event, requires knowledge, understanding of each breed standard and oral development to explain an external judge the reasons that justify the ranking of each animal in every breed. Competitors not only must understand breed standards but should also have full capacity to explain, expand and defend their judging criteria in front of a judge.  Congratulations to our Hopkins County 4-H Senior team dairy judging and good luck in San Antonio!.

For more information on dairy judging or 4-H programs in Hopkins County please call 903-885-3443.

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