By Stephen Smoot
In the past month, Pendleton County youth could have been said to have brought home the bacon – except for the fact that the hardware earned came from judging livestock.
On March 22, 12 Pendleton County 4-H youth traveled to Rockingham County Fairgrounds in Harrisonburg, Virginia, for the fifth annual MC Livestock Stockman’s Challenge. Starting at 8:30 a.m., youth from three divisions commenced judging. The categories were Pee Wee (5 to 8 years), juniors (age 9 to 13), and seniors (14 to 19 years of age).
The contest allowed students to judge in three classes of cattle, and two each for hogs, lambs, and goats.
At the contest, 50 volunteer judges evaluated 280 youth representing three states. MC Livestock has 25 years of experience in operating an Angus seedstock operation. Tom and Sarah McCall, owners, established their own farm in Greenvillle, Virginia. Education and preparing the next generation starts at home for the McCalls, whose two sons “are an essential part of what takes place on the farm.”
On their farm website, the couple adds that “we are strong supporters of 4-H, FFA, and the National Junior Angus Association.” They add that “there is no better way to raise children than to have them involved in organizations such as these.”
Bella Hoover took eighth place in the junior swine contest while Olivia Seymour earned fourth in the Pee Wee cattle division.
Nine 4-H’ers competed in the West Virginia Beef Expo Stockman’s Contest held April 11 at Jackson’s Mill in Weston. This competition has only a junior and a senior division. Juniors range from 8 to 13 years old.
Every division had both individual and team contests. The competition consisted of 10 classes worth 50 points apiece, adding up to a total of 500 possible points. Four involved live animal evaluation, three focused on pricing, and one was on feeder grading.
Additionally, one of the classes had students examine performance data. Another was a “quiz class” that required competitors to answer 10 questions “without the use of notes.”
Other classes had students look at quality assurance data and breed identification.
Katie Heavner took 24th as the overall individual senior.
Top teams and individuals could win both cash and trophies, while others placing lower won cash.
