MONTE VISTA – On Friday, Sept. 20, the SLV 4-H Livestock Senior and Junior Judging Teams competed in the Tri State Fair Livestock Judging Contest in Amarillo, Texas.
The Senior Team placed eighth out of 54 teams and the Junior team placed 16th out of 42 teams, according to a press release from the Colorado State University San Luis Valley Area Extension Office. The teams were coached by Eric Hinton and Janae Naranjo. There were 121 total participants in the competition.
The SLV 4-H Junior Team (ages 8-13) was comprised of Tynnley Burh, Macklie Sims, and Ashley Entz. Burh placed second highest in the individual “Sheep and Goats Category,” and Entz placed 10th in “Oral Reasons.”
The SLV 4-H Senior Team (ages 14-18) was comprised of Durae Naranjo, Emily Seger, Tiffany LePlatt, and Darian Vance. The team came in first in the “Swine Category,” second in the “Sheep and Goats Category,” and fifth in “Reasons”. The team also placed 10th in the “Beef Category.”
Durae Naranjo was the “High Point Individual” in “Swine,” second in the category of “Sheep and Goats,” and fifth in “Reasons.” She was also the High Point Individual “Overall” for the Senior Division.
After attending the Tristate Fair, the team then toured West Texas A&M University and its Agriculture Department and received information about options and opportunities for their futures.
Jesse Entz, who traveled with the team, spoke about the kids, and what they accomplished on the trip, “The group of kids on the team are so incredible and blew me away with how they performed. These opportunities are made possible with the generous sponsorships of many businesses and people including, Poole Chemical, the Jean Ann Consaul Foundation, Steve Cordova, MPK Show pigs (Kole and Nikol Kelley, EGE Products (Brady Boyd), Ben and Sara Seger, Bountiful Meats and Processing and all those who have supported this teams’ efforts.”
Entz added that the team is in the process of offering a fundraising event, called the Leaf and Pine Needle Raking Fundraiser.
For more information on the fundraiser, contact Janae Naranjo at 719-480-4212 or Jesse Entz at 719-588-9526 to schedule a yard cleaning.
Livestock Judging is one of over 200 activities that 4-H members can participate in. To join 4-H or for more information about 4-H, contact the SLV Area Extension Office at 719-852-7381.
