Youth compete for top awards in Illinois Beef Expo Livestock Judging contest

On Feb. 22, 4-H and FFA teams vied for champion honors in the Illinois Beef Expo Livestock Judging Contest in Springfield. The winning FFA team was Pearl City FFA. The winning 4-H team was Henry/Stark.

Contestants judged six classes of livestock containing four animals each. Classes included both breeding and market beef animals. In addition, contestants answered questions on three classes.

Overall FFA team placings are as follows:
5th - Pearl City FFA
4th - Newton FFA
3rd - Lewiston FFA
2nd - Cambridge FFA
1st - Illini West/Rockridge/Liberty FFA

Pictured l to r: Taylor Johnson, Rylee Derrer of Illini West/Rockridge/Liberty FFA

Overall Top 10 FFA individual placings are as follows:
10th - Paige Kannall, Highland
9th - Andrew Baer, Tremont
8th - Katie Krumholz
7th - Taylor Johnson, Illini West, Rockridge, Liberty
6th - Tyler Lentz, Illini West, Rockridge, Liberty
5th - Jacob Lidy, Newton
4th - Rylee Derrer, Illini West, Rockridge, Liberty
3rd - Megan Reed, Cambridge
2nd - Kaitlyn Hildebrand, LaMoille
1st - Jacob Postin, Lewistown

Pictured l to r front row: Hildebrand, Reed, Lidy. Back row: Johnson, Krumholz, Kannall

Overall 4-H team placings are as follows:
5th - Knox Co.
4th - Mercer Co.
3rd - Marion Co.
2nd - McLean Co.
1st - Henry/Stark

Overall Top 10 4-H individual placings are as follows:
10th - Morghan Davison, Geneseo
9th - Mason Flack, Knox Co.
8th - Carson Goff, McLean Co.
7th - Matt Marion
6th - Jacob Hinshaw, McLean Co.
5th - Cole Thomas, Mercer Co.
4th - Layna Bond, Franklin Co.
3rd - John Gellerman, Sangamon/Menard
2nd - Adrian Austin, Marion Co.
1st - Adam Gradert, Henry/Stark

Pictured l to r front row: Gradert, Austin, Gellerman, Bond, Thomas. Back row: Goff, Flack, Davison

Overall Top Ten individuals Junior 4-H Division:
10th - Anna Hannon, Jasper Co.
9th - Clayton Miller, St. Elmo
8th - Case Hennenfent, Knox Co.
7th - Ann Weber, Mercer Co.
6th - Sawyer Schlief
5th - Tori Allen
4th - Kinze Goodman, Jasper Co.
3rd - Evan Wynne, Mercer Co.
2nd - Eric Schafer
1st - Sheridan Hank, Mercer Co.

Pictured l to r front row: Hank, Wynne, Goodman, Allen. Back row: Weber, Hennenfent, Hannon