FARGO, N.D. — Several North Dakota 4-H’ers brought home honors from the Western National Roundup in Denver, Colorado.
The Western National Roundup is a place for youth to compete nationally in several contests, learn to work as teams, and develop self-confidence and leadership skills, including critical thinking and independence. Youth also participate in educational tours that provide community-based and service learning opportunities.
The North Dakota 4-H teams and individuals who placed were:
Hippology
Hippology provides an opportunity for youth enrolled in 4-H equine projects to demonstrate their knowledge of equine science-related subject matter.
The Pierce County team of Tianna Dwyer, Mika Guty, Kendra Leier and Joey Wolf took first place.
Individual placings were:
- Written exam – Dwyer, high individual; Leier, fourth; Guty, fifth
- Stations identification – Dwyer, high individual; Leier, second; Guty, third
- Horse judging – Leier, second
Consumer Decision Making
Consumer decision making is an event that involves ranking four items in six classes. The classes in this year’s competition were fast foods, toothpaste, wearable technology, brewing coffee, carry-on luggage and subscription shopping. Participants also offer oral reasons for their class rankings and complete the event by competing in a group think activity on the topic of fundraising.
The senior Cass County team of Elsa Axtman, Linnea Axtman, Aubrey Delaney and Nolan Severance was reserve overall grand champion. Linnea Axtman was fifth high overall individual.
Team and individual placings were:
- Group think activity – team, grand champion
- Reasons – team, second; Elsa Axtman, fourth; Linnea Axtman, fifth
Livestock Judging
Livestock judging consists of analyzing beef cattle, sheep, swine, and meat goats and measuring them against a standard. It is the study of the relationship between an animal’s form and function. Livestock judging has two primary components 1) placing a group of animals and 2) orally justifying the decision.
The Ransom County team of Jamie Geyer, Olivia Nitschke, Lilly Solemsaas and Paige Zimprich placed second overall.
Team and individual placings were:
- Beef Cattle – team, third overall; Geyer, third; Solemsaas, 10th
- Meat Goats – team, sixth; Geyer, second; Nitschke, 10th
- Reasons – team, third overall; Nitschke, seventh; Geyer, eighth
- Sheep – team, first overall; Geyer, second; Nitschke, fifth
- Swine – team, second overall; Geyer, high individual; Zimprich, 14th
Horse Judging
Horse judging is an activity in which youth learn and apply knowledge of the ideal features of a variety of breeds and riding styles. They must evaluate each horse in relation to the ideal for the breed and in relation to other horses or riders in the class. In addition to placing the class, contestants must also defend their placings through oral reasons.
The Ward County team of Emily Fannik, Olivia Lebrun, Anne Schauer and Mikaela Woodruff placed third overall.
Team and individual placings were:
- Halter – team, third overall; Fannik, third; Schauer, 12th
- Performance classes – team, second overall; Fannik, third; Schauer, seventh; Woodruff, ninth
- Reasons – team, second overall; Fannik, fourth; Woodruff, eighth; Schauer, ninth; Lebrun, 15th
Horse Demonstrations
4-H Horse Demonstrations allow youth to present skills or methods learned in the 4‐H Horse Project.
The Ransom County team of Abby Freeburg and Jillian Hughes were reserve champions in the Equine Team Demonstrations contest.
Equine Public Speaking
The equine public speaking contest is designed to help youth practice presentation skills with an equine-related subject matter while expanding equine knowledge and increasing research and study techniques.
- Allie Bopp, Sargent County – fourth place individual
Prepared Public Speaking
The 4-H Public Speaking Contest helps youth learn how to organize and prepare a speech, develop speech delivery skills, learn how to present themselves to others, develop self-confidence and develop skills for communicating about current issues to real audiences.
- Thomas Gerber, Ransom County – reserved champion individual
4-H is an North Dakota State University Extension program. Learn more about 4-H at www.ag.ndsu.edu/4H.
Photos of other teams and individuals can be found here.
— NDSU Extension
