Six members of the Rio Blanco County 4-H livestock judging team were recognized as all-state judges at this year’s Colorado State Fair. Left to right: coach Clint Shults, Marryn Shults, Madi Shults, Ty Dunham, Macy Collins, Kacey Lapp and Tatum Kennedy.
RBC | This years’ Colorado 4-H all-state livestock judging ceremony was held Aug. 27 at the Colorado State Fair. Junior and senior 4-H judges earn a spot on the respective all-state teams by finishing in the top 10 percent of the overall division in at least three of the eight judging contests held in the spring across Colorado. Wyoming and Nebraska 4-H contest results can count towards this distinction as well. 2016 was an extraordinary season for the RBC team as an unprecedented six members were recognized as all-state judges. Kacey Lapp was the top junior livestock judge earning an impressive five contest points. Marryn Shults qualified with four points and Tatum Kennedy made the team with three points. Each young lady was awarded a handsome hand-tooled custom leather folio sponsored by the Colorado State University Animal Science Department headed by Dr. Kevin Pond. Madi Shults, Macy Collins and Ty Dunham qualified for the senior all-state team. This trio of livestock judges are the most decorated and successful 4-H livestock judges from Rio Blanco County 4-H. They earned RBC’s first state championship, they’ve won thousands of dollars in college scholarships, cash prizes, boots, buckles, etc. If it was on the award table at the end of the day, these kids won it at one time or another, not just individually but as a team. Ty Dunham qualified for the all-state team in his final season this year and capped off an impressive 4-H career that didn’t start until he was a freshman in high school. He chose to attend South Plains College in Levelland, Texas, after earning a judging scholarship from their ag department. He considered other colleges from Idaho to Nebraska before accepting the offer from South Plains. Madi Shults qualified for the all-state team for the seventh time. She finished her 4-H judging career tied for the most qualifications Colorado 4-H all-state team with Curtis Doubet (Elbert County) and Clay Carlson (Weld County), who is now the current judging coach at Colorado State. Madi chose to attend South Plains College in Levelland, Texas, after considering offers from Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, CSU, Wyoming, NJC, Casper and LCCC. Macy Collins 4-H career is at its’ prime. She qualified for all-state for the second time in 2016 and to date has earned college scholarships from around the region multiple times and is a junior at Meeker High School. Her list of accomplishments and recognition will only multiply considering her impressive work ethic, motivation and talent. This young lady’s career will be exciting to watch down the road.
