The state contest was held June 22 at Colorado State University and was hosted by Clay Carlson, the head coach of the CSU Livestock Judging Team. Carlson and his team hosted a well-organized, straightforward livestock contest.
Shults finished in the top three in each category she competed in.
While she place third in beef, Shults was “first loser” in sheep/goats and placings. However, she won the swine division judging, the reasons category and, most notable, she finished as High Individual Overall for the second season in a row.
Shults was awarded a banner from Showtimes Magazine for her state title and three new silver buckles, three plaques and her third scholarship from the CSU Animal Science Department.
Shults has followed her older sister, Maclaine, down the judging road since 2007. She didn’t have much of a choice, really. She liked traveling and she seemed to like judging a little, so she kept at it for the next nine years. She has made the Colorado 4-H Livestock Judging All-State team since 2010.
In 2012, Shults won the Junior Division Cattle Judging Title at the NCBA Convention in Nashville, Tenn. She was also a member of the 2013 Reserve Champion Colorado FFA Livestock Judging team that was chosen to advance to the National FFA Contest, where she finished as a Gold Individual and was 12th overall in the nation as a freshman.
The year 2014 was tough as it was the first season of not having her sister as a teammate.
Maclaine went on to judge for Redlands Community College, but Madi collected a buckle or two that year and got ready for 2015.
Shults won six county invitational contests, the state contest and was a member of the 2015 State Champion Team as well. She finished third overall at the Ak Sar Ben Invitational in Omaha and finished in the top 25 overall at the National 4-H Contest in Louisville, Ky., this past November.
Shults has plans to continue on the junior collegiate level at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas
So, time will tell what the future holds for this outstanding young woman, but if the past is an indication, the future has a strong bright hue.
