4-H members from the Southwind Extension District excelled at the annual Kansas 4-H Livestock Sweepstakes event on August 24-25 in Kansas State University’s Weber Hall.  The Southwind District is especially proud that 4-H members represented 4-H Clubs from Allen, Bourbon Neosho and Woodson Counties.

4-H members learned gained new knowledge and worked on livestock skills in order to be competitive in the Sweepstakes event which consisted blending scores in four contests. Southwind Extension District completed the weekend by being named the 2019 Champion and 3^rd Overall Kansas State 4-H Sweepstakes Teams. Top ten individual Sweepstakes winners for Southwind were Jillian Keller, 10^th; Aidan Yoho, 7^th; Sadie Marchiao, 5^th; Clay Brillhart, 3^rd; Brody Nemecek, 2^nd; and Haydon Schaaf was named High Individual Overall (for the second consecutive year!) after excelling in all contests.

The Livestock Quiz Bowl started with a qualifying exam. The twelve teams with the highest average scores advanced to the quiz bowl competition. Southwind #2 (Schaaf, Nemecek, Brillhart, Yoho) was seated first after the test and was later named the Reserve Champion Quiz Bowl Team. Southwind #1 (Marchiano, Keller, Dreher, Fry) earned 3^rd best team.

The Livestock Judging contest consisted of nine judging classes and four sets of reasons with 201 contestants and 43 teams from across Kansas. Southwind #2 (Keller, Brillhart, Nemecek, Schaaf) was 1^st in Sheep/Goats; 1^st in Hogs; 1^st in Cattle and 1^st in Reasons and named Champion Team Overall. Southwind #1 (Dreher, Marchiano, Fry, Yoho) was 2^nd in Sheep/Goats; 3^rd in Hogs; 10^th in Cattle; 4^th in Reasons and named Fourth High Team Overall. Individual livestock judging results are as follows:

• Jillian Keller – 1^st Sheep/Goats; 3^rd Hogs; 8^th Beef; 5^th Reasons; High Individual Overall
• Clay Brillhart – 3^rd Sheep/Goats; 4^th Swine; 4^th Beef; 3^rd Reasons; 2^nd Individual Overall
• Haydon Schaaf – 5^th Hogs; High Individual Beef; 4^th Reasons; 3rd Individual Overall
• Brody Nemecek – High Individual Hogs; High Individual Reasons
• Sadie Marchiano – 5^th Sheep/Goats; 2^nd Hogs; 6^th Reasons; 7^th Individual Overall

  As the State Champion Livestock Judging Team, Southwind District (Keller, Brillhart, Schaaf, Nemecek) will represent Kansas 4-H at the American Royal Livestock Show in Kansas City, MO this coming October.

  The Meats Judging contest was based on identification of thirty retail cuts, six placings classes and three sets of reasons. Southwind #2 (Schaaf, Brillhart, Nemecek, Yoho) was 3^rd in Placings, 5^th in Reasons, 2^nd in Retail ID and Champion Team Overall. Southwind #1 (Beene, Fry, Keller, Marchiano) was 2^nd in Meats Reasons. Individual meats judging results are as follows:

• Haydon Schaaf – High Individual Retail ID and High Individual Overall
• Jillian Keller – 2^nd Reasons
• Clay Brillhart – 7^th Individual Overall

  In the Livestock Skillathon, 4-H members rotated individually through stations that addressed six areas of animal science. Those included feedstuffs, breed identification, equipment identification, meat identification, wool evaluation and a written test. There was also a team component where members worked together on evaluating a performance Angus genetics scenario, understanding livestock biosecurity, and understanding issues in livestock reproduction. Southwind #2 (Brillhart, Marchiano, Nemecek, Schaaf) was 1^st in Exam, 1^st in ID; and Champion Team Overall. Southwind #1 (Dreher, Fry, Keller, Yoho) was 4^th in ID and 4^th Team Overall. Southwind #3 (Beene, Mueller, O’Brien, Elsworth) were 5^th in the Exam.  Individual Skillathon results are as follows:

• Brody Nemecek – 2^nd Exam; 1^st ID; High Individual Overall
• Sadie Marchiano – 5^th ID; 4^th Individual
• Haleigh O’Brien – 1^st Exam
• Aidan Yoho – 8^th Individual
• Haydon Schaaf – 6^th Individual
• Clay Brillhart – 5^th Individual

  This group worked hard and studied a great deal of material to prepare for four state contests. To be named the Champion Livestock and Meats Judging Teams, Reserve Champion Quiz Bowl Team, Champion Livestock Skillathon Team, and Overall Champion Sweepstakes Team at the state contests shows how hard these 4-H members pushed each other to “Make the Best Better.”  The Southwind District is proud of their accomplishments and look forward to future growth and learning.
  
  

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