Livestock Judging Intermediate Team (L to R): Kyle Malaer, Colton Blinka, Karla Rothmann

The Calhoun County 4-H Livestock Judging Team competed at the Multi-District 4-H Livestock Judging contests held at Texas A&M University. For those unfamiliar with Livestock Judging, students evaluate a class of four animals which may be cattle, swine, sheep or goats and rank them 1 through 4 based upon their value as a market or breeding animal. Then they must also deliver oral reasons, a 2 minute defense of why they placed the class the way they did. The Livestock Judging Team has been a large and successful tradition in the Calhoun County 4-H. The Livestock Judging Teams are coached by Charles Seely, the Calhoun County 4-H Extension Agent.

The Senior Livestock Judging Team placed 3rd, advancing to the State 4-H Roundup Contest to be held in Lubbock, TX in June. The Senior 4-H Livestock Judging Team is not in unchartered waters, in fact, this is the 7th year in a row that the Senior Team has advanced to the State Contest. In 2011, the Senior Team placed 8th at the State 4-H Roundup Livestock Judging Contest. The Senior Team is composed of Cody Malaer, Brantley Bordovsky, Skyler Blinka and Kristi Rothmann. Malaer was ranked as the 3rd High Senior Individual Overall, 2nd High Individual in Sheep and Goats, and 5th High Individual in Reasons. Brantley Bordovsky was the 10th High Senior Individual Overall, 4th High Senior Individual in Reasons, and the 4th High Individual in Cattle Judging.

The Intermediate Livestock Judging Team placed 2nd in their division being narrowly edged out by Victoria County. The Intermediate Judging Team is composed of Kyle Malaer, Colton Blinka, and Karla Rothmann. Colton Blinka was the 3rd High Individual in the Intermediate Division. Blinka was also 5th High Individual in Cattle as well as 2nd in Reasons. This same team also placed 6th at the San Antonio Livestock Exposition in February, the second largest youth livestock judging contest in the world.

The Junior Livestock Judging Team placed 4th in their division. The members of the Junior Livestock Judging Team are Keegan Brumfield, Chandler Harper, and Katelyn Rothmann. Keegan Brumfield was the Overall High Individual in the Junior Division, 4th Individual in Cattle Judging and High Individual in Swine Judging. Katelyn Rothmann also placed 4th in the Swine Judging competition.

-Charles Seeley, CEA 4-H and Youth Development

Senior Team (L to R): Skyler Blinka, Cody Malaer, Brantley Bordovsky, Not Pictured is Kristi Rothmann

Junior Team (L to R): Keegan Brumfield, Katelyn Rothmann, Chandler Harper