RBC | Rio Blanco Livestock Judging kids represented our county well on New Year’s Eve in Phoenix, Arizona, at the Arizona Nationals Livestock Judging Contest. Participants from the Meeker Livestock Judging team were all juniors: Hattie Brennan, Milo Brennan and Dylan Rundberg. Joining their junior team was Indica Rayburn from the Western Rio Blanco Livestock Judging team of Rangely and also her younger sister Amari Rayburn competed as an individual for her first contest ever.
This contest had 400 kids competing, and comprised both junior and senior divisions. There were 42 teams on the junior side so there was a lot of competition. This contest was high-quality and the biggest contest these kids have ever participated in.
Hattie, one of the oldest of the junior team, scored her personal best in reasons of 45/50 and placed 45th high individual out of 100. The other elder member of the junior team, Dylan, scored a personal best in reasons of 35/50 and was 53rd individual out of 100. Milo, too, scored his personal best in reasons with a 36/50 and was 55/100 individual. Indica was the youngest on the junior team and this was only her second contest ever but she still held her own against stiff competition scoring well on all 10 classes, even getting a 50/50 on a class, and being 83/100 individual. Combined efforts earned the team 12th High Junior Team out of 42 teams, just missing getting their names called and recognized in the top 10 at the banquet. This is impressive considering the volume of competition.
Teams are made up of four individuals so Amari being the youngest and least experienced competed as an individual and did awesome. She was able to accomplish all the goals of turning in her cards, giving her oral set of reasons, and she placed individually 98/100.
Coaches Clint Shults and Kari Brennan traveled with the Meeker team and the Rayburn girls’ family brought them for these kids to combine and compete. The kids did great and the coaches were very proud of all the kids and their accomplishments this trip!
