State 4-H Livestock Judging Contests
Check back for more information on this year's event.
Registration will be completed with your local 4-H agent in 4-H online.
2024 Livestock Judging Information: Registration Packet
2024 County Financial Summary: Please complete and mail with county check.
Past Results & Photos
Top 10 Junior Individual Overall Goats: 1st -Ty Jones (Allen Co.), 2nd - Emily Carson (Wolfe Co.), 3rd - Pollyana Vaske (Boone Co.), 4th - Sophia Smiht (Scott Co.), 5th - Cooper Marsh (Allen Co.), 6th - Wyatt Watson (Fleming Co.), 7th - Hunter Barnes (Spencer Co.), 8th - Creighton Smith (Scott Co.), 9th - Jace Briggs (Taylor Co.), 10th - Joe Fritsch (Bourbon Co.)
High Junior Team Overall Goats: Scott County (Sophia Smith, Wyatt Brown, Creighton Smith, Beylah Davis, Samantha Brown, Clayton Brown)
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Top 10 Junior Individual Overall Sheep: 1st - Ty Jones (Allen Co.), 2nd - Abigail Mattingly (Calloway Co.), 3rd - Lucas Campbell (Fleming Co.), 4th - Lexie Garrett (Nicholas Co.), 5th - Madison Warren (Spencer County), 6th - Jace Briggs (Taylor Co.), 7th - Karoline White (Caldwell Co.), 8th - Colton Kearns (Boone Co.), 9th - Karly Roy (Pulaski Co.), 10th - Sarah Abdon (Boone Co.)
High Junior Team Overall Sheep: Taylor County (Jace Briggs, Alli Patterson, Coltyn Sollberger, Haiden Russell, Lucas Russell, Jaylin Patterson, Kelsi Auker)
Top 10 Junior Individual Overall Swine: 1st - Pollyana Vaske (Boone Co.), 2nd - Ty Jones (Allen Co.), 3rd - Wyatt Brown (Scott Co.), 4th - Colton Coffman (Boyle Co.), 5th - Emily Carson (Wolfe County), 6th - Colton Kearns (Boone Co.), 7th - Madison Warren (Spencer Co.), 8th - William Taylor (Livingston Co.), 9th - Colby Cooper (Robertson Co.), 10th - Cooper Marsh (Allen Co.)
High Junior Team Overall Swine: Boone County (Colton Kearns, Pollyana Vaske, Sarah Abdon, Gianna Vaske)
Top 10 Junior Individual Overall Beef: 1st - Ty Jones (Allen Co.), 2nd - Colton Kearns (Boone Co.), 3rd - Joe Fritsch (Bourbon Co.), 4th - Karly Roy (Pulaski Co.), 5th - Wyatt Watson (Fleming Co.), 6th - Brianna Hawley (McLean Co.), 7th - Sophia Smith (Scott Co.), 8th - Colton Coffman (Boyle Co.), 9th - James Jackson (Bourbon Co.), 10th - Gianna Vaske (Boone Co.)
High Junior Team Overall Beef: Boone County (Colton Kearns, Pollyana Vaske, Sarah Abdon, Gianna Vaske)
Top 10 Junior Individual Overall Questions/Reasons: 1st - Ty Jones (Allen Co.), 2nd - Joe Fritsch (Bourbon Co.), 3rd - Colton Kearns (Boone Co.), 4th - Emily Carson (Wolfe Co.), 5th - Abigail Mattingly (Calloway Co.), 6th - Pollyana Vaske (Boone Co.), 7th - Wyatt Watson (Fleming Co.), 8th - Karoline White (Caldwell Co.), 9th - Hunter Barnes (Spencer Co.), 10th - Zach Albin (McLean Co.)
High Junior Team Overall Questions/Reasons: Boone County (Colton Kearns, Pollyana Vaske, Sarah Abdon, Gianna Vaske)
Top 10 Junior Individual Overall: 1st - Ty Jones (Allen Co.), 2nd - Colton Kearns (Boone Co.), 3rd - Madison Warren (Spencer Co.), 4th - Jace Briggs (Taylor Co.), 5th - Joe Fritsch (Bourbon Co.), 6th - Cooper Marsh (Allen Co.), 7th - Lucas Campbell (Fleming Co.), 8th - Pollyana Vaske (Boone Co.), 9th - Karly Roy (Pulaksi Co.), 10th - Emily Carson (Wolfe Co.)
High Junior Team Overall: Boone County (Colton Kearns, Pollyana Vaske, Sarah Abdon, Gianna Vaske)
Top 10 Clover Individual Overall Goats: 1st - Makayla Cornett (Laurel Co.) 2nd - Wyatt Watson (Fleming Co.) 3rd - Zach Albin (McClean Co.) 4th - Ty Jones (Allen Co.) 5th - Colton Kearns (Boone Co.) 6th - Jake Scott (Boone Co.) 7th - Adam Beavers (Caldwell Co.) 8th - Gauge Hosick (Livingston Co.) 9th - Pollyanna Vaske (Boone Co.) 10th - Colby Cooper (Fleming Co.)
High Clover Team Overall Goats: Boone County (Colton Kearns, Anna Scott, Pollyanna Vaske, Jake Scott)
Top 10 Clover Individual Overall Sheep: 1st - Ty Jones (Allen Co.) 2nd - Emily Carson (Wolfe Co.) 3rd - Wyatt Watson (Fleming Co.) 4th - Adam Beavers (Caldwell Co.) 5th - Braden Lacefield (Woodford Co.) 6th - Nash Girdley (Spencer Co.) 7th - Noah Frank (Spencer Co.) 8th - Eli Cotton (Caldwell Co.) 9th - Emily Cooper (Fleming Co.) 10th - Cooper Marsh (Allen Co.)
High Clover Team Overall Sheep: Wolfe County (Raygen Holbrook, Emily Carson, Kylea Neeley, Braden Tolson)
Top 10 Clover Individual Overall Swine: 1st - Ty Jones (Allen Co.) 2nd - Colby Cooper (Fleming Co.) 3rd - Adam Beavers (Caldwell Co.) 4th - Colton Kearns (Boone Co.) 5th - Brianna Hawley (McClean County), 6th - Mackenzie Sanders (Caldwell Co.) 7th - Lexie Garrett (Harrison Co.) 8th - Raygen Holbrook (Wolfe Co.) 9th - Emily Carson (Wolfe Co.)10th - Nash Girdley (Spencer Co.)
High Clover Team Overall Swine: Caldwell County (Adam Beavers, Mackenzie Sanders, Bradley Trimble, Eli Cotton, Whitleigh Carter)
Top 10 Clover Individual Overall Beef: 1st - Colby Cooper (Fleming Co.) 2nd - Jase Paris (Livingston Co.) 3rd - Levi Temple (Allen Co.), 4th - Wyatt Watson (Fleming Co.) 5th - Ellis Croshaw (Boyle Co.) 6th - Eli Cotton (Caldwell Co.), 7th - Ty Jones (Allen Co.) 8th - Wyatt Jeffiers (Allen Co.) 9th - Makayla Cornett (Laurel Co.) 10th - Whitleigh Carter (Caldwell Co.)
High Clover Team Overall Beef: Fleming County (Colby Cooper, Emily Cooper, Wyatt Watson)
Top 10 Clover Individual Overall Nontraditional: 1st - Ty Jones (Allen Co.) 2nd - Adam Beavers (Caldwell Co.) 3rd - Emily Carson (Wolfe Co.) 4th - Wyatt Watson (Fleming Co.) 5th - Makayla Cornett (Laurel Co.) 6th - Pollyanna Vaske (Boone Co.) 7th - Sebastian Gilleo (Shelby Co.) 8th - Colby Cooper (Fleming Co.) 9th - Levi Temple (Allen Co.) 10th - Whitleigh Carter (Caldwell Co.)
High Clover Team Overall Nontraditional: Caldwell County (Adam Beavers, Mackenzie Sanders, Eli Cotton, Bradley Trimble, Whitleigh Carter)
Top 10 Clover Individual Overall: 1st - Ty Jones (Allen Co.) 2nd - Colby Cooper (Fleming Co.) 3rd - Wyatt Watson (Fleming Co.) 4th - Adam Beavers (Caldwell Co.) 5th - Makayla Cornett (Laurel Co.), 6th - Eli Cotton (Caldwell Co.) 7th - Emiliy Carson (Wolfe Co.) 8th - Colton Kearns (Boone Co.) 9th - Brianna Hawley (McLean Co.) 10th - Nash Girdley (Spencer Co.)
High Clover Team Overall: Fleming County (Wyatt Watson, Colby Cooper, Emily Cooper)
Top 10 Senior Individual Overall Goats: 1st - Dakota Smith (Bourbon Co.), 2nd - Wyatt Acey (Boyle Co.), 3rd - Lydia Gosney (Pendelton Co.), 4th - McKeenan Wyatt (Pendleton Co.), 5th - Caden Kephart (Shelby Co.), 6th - Mika Malone (Harrison Co.), 7th - Sara Grace Mattingly (Calloway Co.), 8th - Cade Dupin (Breckinridge Co.), 9th - Lily P'Pool (Caldwell Co.), 10th - Michael Brockman (Boone Co.)
High Senior Team Overall Goats: Pendleton County (Emily Cobb, Lydia Gosney, McKeenan Wyatt)
Top 10 Senior Individual Overall Sheep: 1st - Will Banks (Harrison Co.), 2nd - Chevy Vaske (Boone Co.), 3rd - Lydia Gosney (Pendleton Co.), 4th - Alexis Jones (Boyle Co.), 5th - Casey Montgomery (Spencer Co.), 6th - Lyndsey Garrett (Harrison Co.), 7th - Anna Meters (Boone Co.), 8th - Cade Dupin (Breckinridge Co.), 9th - Luke Badertscher (McClean Co.), 10th - Sydney Alsip (Boone Co.)
High Senior Team Overall Sheep: Boone County (Clara Meyers, Chevy Vaske, Sydney Alsip, Anna Meyers, Taylor Quartuccio, Michael Brockman, Izaak Stehlin)
Top 10 Senior Individual Overall Swine: 1st - Casey Montgomery (Spencer Co.), 2nd - Will Banks (Harrison County), 3rd - Wyatt Acey (Boyle Co.), 4th - Kasey Johnson (Mason Co.), 5th - Lydia Gosney (Pendleton Co.), 6th - Luke Badertscher (McClean Co.), 7th - Alexis Jones (Boyle Co.), 8th - Caden Kephart (Shelby Co.), 9th - Lyndsey Garrett (Harrison Co.), 10th - Chevy Vaske (Boone Co.)
High Senior Team Overall Swine: Harrison County (Mika Malone, Will Banks, Lyndsey Garrett)
Top 10 Senior Individual Overall Beef: 1st - Chevy Vaske (Boone Co.), 2nd - Will Banks (Harrison Co.), 3rd - Kasey Johnson (Mason Co.), 4th - Michael Brockman (Boone Co.), 5th - Wyatt Acey (Boyle Co.), 6th - Lyndsey Garrett (Harrison Co.), 7th - Taylor Quartuccio (Boone Co.), 8th - Luke Badertscher (Boone Co.), 9th - Katy Trimble (Caldwell Co.), 10th - Anna Meyers (Caldwell Co.)
High Senior Team Overall Beef: Boone County (Chevy Vaske, Clara Meyers, Anna Meyers, Taylor Quartuccio, Sydney Alsip, Michael Brockman, Izaak Stehlin)
Top 10 Senior Individual Overall Reasons: 1st - Will Banks (Harrison Co.), 2nd - Chevy Vaske (Boone Co.), 3rd - Casey Montgomery (Spencer Co.), 4th - Lyndsey Garrett (Harrison Co.), 5th - Lydia Gosney (Pendleton Co.), 6th - Michael Brockman (Boone Co.), 7th - Kasey Johnson (Mason Co.), 8th - Wyatt Acey (Boylbe Co.), 9th - Cade Dupin (Breckinridge Co.), 10th - Luke Badertscher (McClean Co.)
High Senior Team Overall Reasons: Boone County (Chevy Vaske, Taylor Quartuccio, Anna Meyers, Clara Meyers, Sydney Alsip, Michael Brockman, Izaak Stehlin)
Top 10 Senior Individual Overall: 1st - Will Banks (Harrison Co.), 2nd - Chevy Vaske (Boone Co.), 3rd - Lydia Gosney (Pendleton Co.), 4th - Wyatt Acey (Boyle Co.), 5th - Kasey Johnson (Mason Co.), 6th - Lyndsey Garrett (Harrison Co.), 7th - Casey Montgomery (Spencer Co.), 8th - Luke Badertscher (McClean Co.), 9th - Alexis Jones (Boyle Co.), 10th - Michael Brockman (Boone Co.)
High Senior Team Overall: Harrison County (Mika Malone, Will Banks, Lyndsey Garrett)
Quick Links
Resources
- Beef Heifer Oral Reasons Template for Clovers
- Example Beef Heifer Oral Reasons for Clovers
- Breeding Ewe Oral Reasons Template for Clovers
- Example Breeding Ewe Oral Reasons for Clovers
- Market Hog Oral Reasons Template for Clovers
- Example Market Hog Oral Reasons for Clovers
- ASC-166: Preparing and Giving Oral Reasons
- ASC-167: Judging Performance Classes
- Pennsylvania 4-H Livestock Judging Manual
- South Dakota State University Livestock Judging Manual
Top 12 Week for Livestock Judging
Each year, the top 12 overall placing 4-H youth in the Senior Division at the Kentucky 4-H Livestock Judging Contest qualify to attend Top 12 Week. Youth attending Top 12 Week receive one week of intense training in evaluation of beef cattle, goats, sheep and swine, as well as training in preparing and giving oral reasons. The training during Top 12 Week is provided by Steve Austin, Extension Associate for Youth Livestock Programs. Top 12 Week is traditionally held during the second week of July (starting the Friday following July 4th and concluding the next Friday).
During Top 12 Week, youth will travel across Kentucky and parts of Indiana to visit 12-15 elite livestock operations to evaluate their livestock. During a typical Top 12 Week, youth will evaluate 50-60 classes of livestock and will give 25-30 sets of oral reasons. Despite this rigorous schedule, plenty of time is also set aside for youth to socialize with each other and to participate in some fun activities. Top 12 Week is a great time for youth to improve their livestock judging and oral reasons skills, and to interact with other youth from different parts of Kentucky. Also, the network of breeders and livestock producers the youth will interact with during Top 12 Week will bear fruit for years to come.
At the conclusion of Top 12 Week, eight youth are selected to be a part of the Kentucky 4-H All-Star Livestock Judging Team. These eight youth will receive additional training in evaluation and oral reasons throughout the fall. Additionally, these eight youth participate in several regional/national livestock judging contests, which typically includes:
- AKSARBEN Livestock Exhibition (Omaha, NE)
- Keystone International Livestock Exposition (Harrisburg, PA)
- Purdue University Boilermaker Practice Contest (West Lafayette, IN)
- Premier Stockman Livestock Judging Contest (Auburn, IN)
Following the Premier Stockman Livestock Judging Contest, four youth are selected as the Kentucky 4-H All-Star Gold Livestock Judging Team. These four youth have the honor of representing Kentucky at the National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest, held each November as a part of the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, KY.
Kentucky 4-H All Star Gold Livestock Judging Team
Beginning in 1969, Kentucky transitioned from a county-based team that represented the state at the National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest to an All-Star "Gold Team" comprised of the top livestock judges from across the state. To qualify for the Gold Team, the top 12 overall placing 4-H youth at the Kentucky 4-H Livestock Judging Contest attend Top 12 Week for additional training. Eight of the youth attending Top 12 Week are selected for additional training and participation in several regional and national livestock judging contests in the fall of the year. From this select group, the top four youth are chosen to be members of the Kentucky 4-H All-Star Gold Livestock Judging Team. The following are past members of this elite livestock judging team.
If you can fill in some of the missing information for previous Gold Team members, please contact Larissa Tucker.
Past Gold Team Members
National Champion 4-H Livestock Judging Team
Standing: Mr. John Parker (Retired Executive Director, Virginia Pork Board), Steve Austin, Kane Austin, Coaches
Standing: Steve Austin, Coach, Jeremiah Cupps (Boone County)
Standing: Dr. Richard Coffey, Coach
Standing: Jason P'Pool (Coach)
Back row: Jason P'Pool and Dr. Richard Coffey (Coaches)
Back row: Jason P'Pool (Coach)
Mallory Penick (Kenton County), Brandon Ellis (Boyle County) and Dr. Ken
Culp III (Coach)
2004
Lindsay Berry (Hart County)
Mike Meyer (Harrison County)
Cindy Harris (Shelby County)
Rachel Speaks (Kenton County)
2003
Brent Brockman (Adair County)
Shannon Wade (Harrison County)
Michelle Ogden (Hardin County)
Shelly Wade (Harrison County)
2002
Hanna Leitsinger (Boone County)
Justin Jackson (Mercer County)
James Ridgeway (Mercer County)
Kelly Stoeppel (Harrison County)
2001
Katie Ellis (Boyle County)
Erin Lynch (Fayette County)
Fran Korthaus (Shelby County)
2000
Jeff Zinner (Boyle County)
Tim Zoglmann (Daviess County)
Daisy Fryman (Boone County)
John Allen Mason (Bourbon County)
1999
Aaron Hartman (Shelby County)
Ellie Fryman (Boone County)
Bret Jackson (Bourbon County)
Britteni Kane (Harrison County)
1998
Nathan Brame (Christian County)
Clint Quarles (Scott County)
Tony Stoeppel (Harrison County)
Colleen Stoeppel (Harrison County)
1997
Bart Giles (Christian County)
Michael Webster (Christian County)
Amanda Cox Gibson (Estill County)
Chad Asbury (Mason County)
1996
Laura Gail King (Trigg County)
Brian Carroll (Meade County)
Preston Reeves (Christian County)
Rob Prewitt (Pendleton County)
1995
John Hampton (Christian County)
Leslie Asburn (Mason County)
Brian Jackson (Bourbon County)
Melinda Gray (Mason County)
1994
Brad Tanner (McLean County)
Sarah Hicks Bennett (McLean County)
Mark Humphries (Trigg County)
Abby Harmon Coyle (Washington County)
1993
Jason Groth (Fayette County)
Carrie Lynch Taylor (Fayette County)
Melanie Johnson Gentry (McLean County)
Kevin Stith (Meade County)
1992
Julie Hicks (McLean County)
Aaron Reding (Nelson County)
Jodi P'Pool (Trigg County)
Jason Sandefur (Trigg County)
1991
Jennifer Stephenson (Boone County)
John Mahan (Fayette County)
Brandon Oliver (Trigg County)
Chris Rogers (Powell County)
1990
L.W. Beckley (Estill County)
Jamie Johnson (Mason County)
Tad Campbell (Mason County)
Bart Jones (Warren County)
1989
Brian Ishmael (Harrison County)
Jason P'Pool (Trigg County)
Matt Lundy (Nelson County)
Andrew Watss (Christian County)
1988
Jamie Bell (Bracken County)
Wes Porter (Christian County)
Shane Carlin (Boone County)
Ernest Stith (Meade County)
1987
David Campbell (Lincoln County)
Brent Williams (Boyle County)
Corrine Phillips Fetter (Mason County)
John Bell (Scott County)
1986
Daryle Fryman (Scott County)
Richard Midden (Bourbon County)
Scott Sewell (Madison County)
John Callebs (Clark County)
1985
Davis Holder (Monroe County)
Todd Shewmaker (Mercer County)
Thomas Oldfield (Bath County)
Alan Watts (Christian County)
1984
Amanda Cannon Ashby (Christian County)
Todd Casey (Christian County)
Michael Gardner (Barren County)
Saralyn Porter Hite (Christian County)
1983
Samantha Hancock (Christian County)
Lori Tingle Vegh (Henry County)
John Bill Calhoun (Christian County)
Brian Smiley (Christian County)
1982
Jim Akers (Hardin County)
Cindy Smith Crume (Warren County)
Kim Gray Ragland (Larue County)
Kelly Smith (Warren County)
1981
No team this year
1980
Lydell Hidson (Caldwell County)
Regina Powell O'Nan (Christian County)
Phillip McCoun (Shelby County)
Ronald Powell (Henderson County)
1979
Terry Burks (Barren County)
David Glimp (Boyle County)
Gil Cowles (Warren County)
David McVey
Gregg Thorton (Larue County)
1978
Joe Goggin (Boyle County)
Joe Myers (Montgomery County)
Jimmy Joe Hale (Calloway County)
David Wallace (Caldwell County)
1977
Meg Graham Davis (Warren County)
Darrell Powell (Henderson County)
Hugh Johns (Henderson County)
Scott Weakley (Shelby County)
1976
Theo Tamme (Boyle County)
David Ragland (Larue County)
Bryan Horn (Boyle County)
Ricky Deweese (Hickman County)
1975
Tim Hendrick (Henderson County)
John Johnson (Jefferson County)
Harry Horn (Boyle County)
Mary Nell Southerland (Boyle County)
1974
Cliff Applegate
Martin Lowe, Jr.
Lewis Goggin (Boyle County)
Lynn Graham Cofield (Warren County)
David Miles (Shelby County)
1973
Kevin Ellis (Boyle County)
Eddie Tamme (Boyle County)
Allen Goggin (Boyle County)
Steve Tamme (Boyle County)
1972
Bruce Pritchett (Henderson County)
Steve Powell (Henderson County)
Jerry Pile (Breckinridge County)
Steve Wallace (Caldwell County)
1971
Charles Orange (Logan County)
Paul Graham (Warren County)
Walter Moffett (Anderson County)
Joe Tamme (Boyle County)
1970
Keith Bradford (Harrison County)
Roy Stump (Christian County)
Ed Slack (Todd County)
James Tingle (Henry County)
1969
Paul Conner (Clinton County)
Sue Ann Meng (Warren County)
Linda Goldey
Pete Midden
