4H team scores well

LOUISVILLE -- The Benton County 4-H team won the Arkansas 4-H O'Rama Livestock Judging Contest in July and had the honor of representing Arkansas in the National Contest.

The National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest was held Nov. 19 at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky. The contest is one of the nation's most challenging competitions for livestock industry youth, attracting top young people from throughout the United States each year. A highly competitive event for 4-H members, the contest provides participants with an opportunity to develop skills in evaluation, decision-making, communication, self-discipline and responsibility. The youth evaluated breeding and market beef cattle, swine, sheep and goats then had to answer questions and give oral reasons. The Arkansas team placed 12th in the nation out of over 30 teams. Arkansas 4-H team placed 7th in Sheep & Goats and 9th in Oral Reasons.

Team member, Brittany Stettmeier was 10th High Point Individual and named an All-American Judge. Being named an All-American, Brittany joins an elite group of livestock judges across the country as this award is only given to the top 20 individuals in the contest each year.