Three teams of Pennsylvania 4-H members recently participated in livestock contests at the North American International Livestock Exposition.

Held in Louisville, Ky., this event is one of the largest livestock shows in North America, featuring various competitions, exhibitions and events related to livestock, including cattle, sheep, goats and swine.

Pennsylvania team members were selected from the top-ranking contestants at either the Pennsylvania 4-H Animal Judging Day, the 4-H Animal Bowl or the 4-H Skillathon Day last spring.

The livestock bowl team included Samuel Lazarus, of Lehigh County, Danica Rhoads, of Berks County, and Phoebe Stutzman, of Berks County.

Bowl contests involve a team of youth learning everything they can about a particular animal species and recalling that information quickly under pressure in a team-versus-team live competition setting, noted Kirsten Dubbs, 4-H animal science specialist with Penn State Extension.

The livestock judging team included Lauren Houck, Evangeline McGargle, Samson McGargle and Justin Whitsel, all from Huntingdon County.

In judging contests, participants evaluate and rank groups of animals of the same species, providing oral justifications for their rankings.

Livestock judging contests help youth learn breed and conformation standards, advancing their knowledge of the livestock industry, Dubbs said.

The contests also involve public speaking, as participants must memorize these explanations and deliver them to a contest official.

The livestock skillathon team included Kathryn Rush, Samantha Freed, David Hoover and Eva Garges, all from Montgomery County.

“Participating in animal science knowledge contests certainly teaches youth about their 4-H animal science projects and increases their knowledge level about those projects,” Dubbs said. “In addition, these contests provide opportunities to learn and practice a host of other life skills, such as decision-making, teamwork, evaluating on the fly, memorization and recall.”

The Pennsylvania Livestock Association provides financial support to 4-H teams traveling for these types of contests.

A Pennsylvania 4-H livestock judging endowment provides additional funding.

Administered in Pennsylvania by Penn State Extension, 4-H is a nonformal educational youth-development program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that helps young people develop knowledge and skills to become capable, caring and contributing citizens.

To find a local program, visit the Penn State Extension website at extension.psu.edu/programs/4-H.