The senior horse judges, Emily Silva and Madelyn Medlin, evaluated nine classes and presented four sets of oral reasons defending their placings. This is a new project for the county 4-H being coached by Silvia Smith.
These dedicated individuals are seeking other members to fill the third and fourth spots on next year’s team. The junior horse judges were Hailey and Kayla Scott, judging 10 classes and giving two sets of oral reasons. The Scott sisters made the top 20 overall as well as top 20 in each division, Hailey placing t12th and Kayla placing 19th. This was the first state competition for all of the RBC horse judges attending. With one under their belt, this young group of judges has several more state contests in their future.
The livestock judging team coached by Clint Shults attended the conference as well. The seniors were not able to compete as a team since they are the reining state champions, but they were allowed to judge as individuals.
The group was excited to have a past junior judge, Jillian Bumguardner, be old enough to travel to her first state contest. The seniors were also represented by Macy Collins, Ty Dunham and Madi Shults.
Dunham and Shults attended their final state competitions although they still have a year of eligibility. They will be continuing on to judge at the college level.
The livestock judges evaluated 12 classes of livestock, three with performance data, and they presented six sets of oral reasons. Ty Dunham was sixth in beef, Collins was third in sheep and goats and Shults was in the top three individuals in all six divisions, winning swine, reasons and high individual overall. Shults was able to grasp a back-to-back state championship, a feat that has not been achieved in the history of Colorado 4-H Livestock Judging.
