Left to right: Brady Hurt, Carly Dreher, Tate Crystal, Kyser Nemecek, Emery Yoho, Reegan McDaniel, Jade Parrish, Carla Nemecek
A team of 4-H members from southeast Kansas has won the national livestock judging title, scoring a four-point win over Oklahoma at the Western National 4-H Roundup in Denver.
The Southwind Extension District team tallied 2,546 points in contests that involved judging cattle, goats, sheep, swine and oral reasons. Kyser Nemecek and Reegan McDaniel led the team individually, scoring 864 and 850 points for second and fifth place, respectively.
Oklahoma was the national runner-up with 2,542 points, and Texas was third at 2,536. Twenty-six teams and ninety-seven youth from across the US were entered in the national competition. The Kansas 4-H team placed second in goat, sheep and swine judging; and third in cattle and reasons. Its’ combined total, however, was good enough for the overall team title.
In addition to Nemecek (Iola) and McDaniel (Fort Scott), team members include Tate Crystal (Fort Scott) and Emery Yoho (Yates Center).
The team continues to be coached by Carla Nemecek. Brady Hurt and Carly Dreher, former members of the Southwind livestock team and Jade Parrish a current Kansas State University student served as assistant coaches for the contest.
The Southwind team had previously won the Kansas state championship in 4-H livestock judging. The win at the Western National 4-H Roundup qualifies them for an opportunity to travel to Scotland and England this summer, June 18 – July 3, 2024.
The contests are only a small piece of the international trip that will include agriculture seminars and opportunities to enhance leadership skills through interaction with the citizens of the UK and Ireland. The trip is limited to only nine American teams each year, and these Southeast Kansas youth will be the third team from the Southwind District in 19 years to earn the honor. In 2019 the Southwind team of Jillian Keller, Haydon Schaaf, Brody Nemecek and Clay Brillhart made the trip over the pond, and in 2005 a Neosho County 4-H team – Ryan Page, Trent Page, Clem Neely and Bailey Shaw were able to participate in the Scotland contest.
Although exciting, this opportunity comes with a price tag of about $6500 per person to attend. Fundraising efforts will soon be underway to send these youth on an international trip of a lifetime. Should you be interested in investing in this unique 4-H opportunity, please contact the Southwind Extension District at 620.365.2242.