In August 2023, they were State Champions. Fast forward to January 2024, and they clinched the National Championship. Now, the Southwind District proudly announces that these remarkable kids have earned the title of International Champions!
In January 2024, the Southwind Extension District 4-H Livestock Judging Team, consisting of Emery Yoho (Yates Center), Tate Crystal (Fort Scott), Reegan McDaniel (Fort Scott), and Kyser Nemecek (Iola), emerged as the National Champion 4-H Livestock Judging Team at the prestigious National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado. This victory earned them an invitation to compete internationally at the Royal Highland Show in Scotland and the Charleville Show in the Republic of Ireland from June 19 to July 3, 2024.
The Royal Highland Show, a top-tier livestock event comparable to the American Royal or National Western Stock Show, where the Southwind District 4-H youth divided into pairs, each judging different species. Emery Yoho and Tate Crystal formed the Kansas 4-H Sheep Team, earning the Champion Team title, while Reegan McDaniel and Kyser Nemecek, the Cattle Team, secured 4th Overall. Carly Dreher (Iola) and Brady Hurt (Buffalo) also participated in the contest.
The International Livestock Tour offered more than just competition. It included agricultural seminars, tours, and opportunities to enhance leadership skills and education through interactions with citizens of the UK and Ireland. The team visited diverse livestock operations, including a water buffalo milking facility that produces its own mozzarella cheese, a progressive livestock sale barn, and Netherton Farm, home to one of Scotland’s top Registered Angus herds. Additionally, they enjoyed the Royal Highland Show in Scotland and the Clonmel Stock Show in Ireland.
Beyond agriculture, the Kansas youth forged friendships with a Scottish sheep breeder, rode the London Eye in England, and kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland. They were part of an elite group of nine American 4-H and FFA Teams from across the US, each having earned their spot by winning either a Champion or Reserve title at a National Livestock Judging contest. Accompanying them on this International Tour were Carla Nemecek and Cathy Dreher.
To support their journey, the Southwind team sold stock in the Livestock Judging Team and will host a shareholders meeting on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at the River Room Event Center in Fort Scott, KS. Shareholders will be treated to dinner and a comprehensive presentation of the learning experiences from the Tour, showcasing the invaluable return on their investment in the 4-H Livestock Judging Team.