2025 Canadian national 4-H & Youth Judging Competition

The 2025 Canadian National 4-H & Youth Judging Competition (CN4HYJ) was held on November 23 – 25, 2026 at Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, Saskatchewan. 68 competitors from across Canada participated in the event, with the following 12 making up the 4-H Saskatchewan team: Teresa Friesen (Carlton Trail 4-H Club), Erica Zoerb (Crown Hill 4-H Club), Payton Caldwell (Brokenshell Multiple 4-H Club), Hannah Caldwell (Brokenshell Multiple 4-H Club), Katherine Possberg (Next Step 4-H Club), Avarie Conacher (Northern Spirit 4-H Club), Avvi Brehaut (Wawota 4-H Beef Club), Casey Brady (Carievale 4-H Beef Club), Liam Watson (Cymri 4-H Beef Club), June Bloor (Lomond 4-H Beef & Homecrafts 4-H Club), Cash Wilgenbush (Cymri 4-H Beef Club), Vanessa Charko (Moose Range 4-H Beef Club/Carrot River Light Horse 4-H Club).

The competition began on Sunday, November 23 at the Atlas Hotel, where competitors registered, received their competition jackets, and took part in a supper and competition orientation. They then judged the first three classes: Honey and Water, which were written reasons classes, as well as a Grain Identification class.

The competition resumed on Monday, November 24th at the Chevy GMC arena in the International Trade Centre on the Agribition grounds. The morning consisted of the remaining judging classes, including Charolais, Hereford, Speckle Park, Light Horse, Alpaca and Prospect Steers. Competitors gave oral reasons on these classes to a variety of judges in the Queensbury Building. Competitors explained their reasons for placing the class, being careful to use the proper terminology for each specific species, while paying close attention to the confirmation and characteristics of the individual classes.

After the competition and some free time at Agribition, competitors returned to the hotel for the Awards Banquet, where the class high points and top five competitors were named. The group was joined by guest speaker, International Cattle Judge, PJ Budler, and the Government of Saskatchewan’s Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable Daryl Harrison.

The final placings were then announced. The results were as follows:

• Grand Aggregate ($2,500 & belt buckle) – Emma Thomason, Lakeland College
• Reserve Grand Aggregate ($1,250 & belt buckle) – Max Burris, University of Saskatchewan
• 3rd (Award of $625 in cash & belt buckle) – Cameron MacDonald, University of Saskatchewan
• 4th (Award of $375 in cash & belt buckle) – Kallista Chessor, Lakeland College
• 5th (Award of $250 in cash & a belt buckle) – Katherine Possberg, 4-H Saskatchewan
• Team Plaque (Top 4 scores per team) – Lakeland College

High point awards per class were listed as follows: Prospect Steers: Max Burris (U of S) & Emma Thomason (Lakeland); Honey: Emma Thomason (Lakeland); Water: Payton Caldwell (4-H SK); Grain ID: Hailey Klassen (4-H Manitoba) & Keira Duguid (Manitoba Youth Roundup); Alpaca: Emma Thomason (Lakeland); Charolais: Cameron MacDonald (U of S); Hereford: Emma Thomason (Lakeland); Speckle Park: Payton Caldwell (4-H SK); Light Horse: Katherine Possberg (4-H SK).

Tuesday November 25th saw the Judging Competition Finals in the John Deere Sale Arena, where the top five judged a cattle class and each gave their oral reasons to the audience. Guest Judge PJ Budler assessed the top five youth judges, naming the following as his “top three”, with the first placing moving on to the Judging Panel of the First Lady Classic.

Congratulations to:
· 1st: Cameron MacDonald, U of S
· 2nd: Max Burris, U of S
· 3rd: Emma Thomason, Lakeland

Special thank you to the 4-H Saskatchewan Team Chaperone, Rachelle Zoerb, for accompanying the team throughout the event. Event sponsors included TD Canada Trust, Corteva Agriscience, and A-way to Work (International Rural Exchanges Canada).
Congratulations to 4-H Saskatchewan’s amazing judging team!