4-H members from the Southwind Extension District excelled at the annual Kansas 4-H Livestock Sweepstakes event on August 20-21 in Kansas State University’s Weber Hall. Participants from the Southwind Extension District were Leah Mueller, Emery Yoho, Byron Fry, Kristy Beene, Carly Dreher, Tate Crystal, Kyser Nemecek, Aidan Yoho, Haleigh O’Brien, Gwen Fry and Brady Hurt. 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 2022 Champion and 6^th Overall Kansas State 4-H Sweepstakes Teams. Top ten individual Sweepstakes winners for Southwind were Aidan Yoho, 3^rd and Tate Crystal 10^th 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 (A. Yoho, Crystal, Dreher, Nemecek) was seated second after the test and was later named the Reserve Champion Quiz Bowl Team. Southwind #1 (O’Brien, E. Yoho, G. Fry, Mueller) earned 3^rd best team.

The Livestock Judging contest consisted of nine judging classes and four sets of reasons with 228 contestants and 43 teams from across Kansas. Southwind #2 (A. Yoho, Dreher, Crystal, Nemecek) was 4^th in Sheep; 2^nd in Hogs; 1^st in Cattle and 1^st in Reasons and named Third Team Overall. Southwind #1 (E. Yoho, O’Brien, Hurt, Mueller) was 3^rd in Sheep; 3^rd in Hogs; 5^th in Cattle; 5^th in Reasons and named Fifth High Team Overall. Individual livestock judging results are as follows:

• Haleigh O’Brien – 8^th Sheep
• Carly Dreher – 7^th Sheep; 8^th Hogs; 5^th Reasons; 7^th Overall
• Brady Hurt – 3^rd Sheep; 9^th Hogs; 8^th Overall
• Kyser Nemecek – 7^th Hogs; 4^th Beef; 2^nd Reasons; 6^th Overall
• Tate Crystal – 6^th Hogs
• Leah Mueller – 4^th Hogs
• Aidan Yoho – 19^th Overall

The Meats Judging contest was based on identification of thirty retail cuts, six placings classes and three sets of reasons. Southwind #2 (Crystal, B. Fry, G. Fry, A Yoho) was 1^st in Placings, 9^th in Reasons, 2^nd in Retail ID and Third Team Overall. Individual meats judging results are as follows:

• Byron Fry – 5^th Placings
• Aidan Yoho – 7^th Identification; 10^th Overall
• Gwen Fry – 8^th Placings; 10^th Identification; 8^th Overall
• Carly Dreher – 9^th Placings

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 quality assurance protocols, and judging wool. Southwind #2 (Crystal, Dreher, O’Brien, A. Yoho) was 2^nd in Exam, 1^st in ID; and Champion Team Overall. Individual Skillathon results are as follows:

• Aidan Yoho – 1^st Identification; 10^th Exam; High Individual Overall
• Tate Crystal – 3^rd Identification; 3^rd Overall
• Haleigh O’Brien – 9^th Overall; 7^th Exam

 

This group worked hard and studied a great deal of material to prepare for four state contests. To be named the Champion Skillathon Team, Reserve Champion Quiz Bowl Team, 3^rd & 5^th Overall Livestock Judging Teams, 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.