4-H Saskatchewan Team Places First At National Judging

The Canadian National 4-H & Youth judging Competition (CN4HYJ) was held on November 24-26, 2019 at Canadian Western Agribition in Regina SK.  42 competitors from across Canada participated, with eight of them on the 4-H Saskatchewan team. 

The following 4-H members made up our team: Kyle Kirzinger (Viscount 4-H Beef Club); Faith Stevens (Catherwood Beef & Sheep 4-H Club); Doug Sroka (Maidstone Gully Multiple 4-H Club);  Justin Harcourt (Tisdale 4-H Beef Club); Leah Libke (Prime Cuts 4-H Club); Wyatt Dyck (Wymark Drylanders 4-H Club);  Calvin Murphy (Whitewood 4-H Beef Club);  Brock McGonigal (Rockglen Multiple 4-H Club).

The competition commenced on Sunday November 24 at the Atlas Hotel in Regina. Competitors took part in a welcome, supper and competition orientation. Past 4-H member and CN4HYJ committee member, Catherine Lang, was a guest speaker for the evening. Competitors then judged three classes for the competition: Silage, Meat Cuts and Water Quality. 

Monday’s events took place at the Chevy GMC arena in the new International Trade Centre on the Agribition grounds. The morning consisted of the remaining 
judging classes, including: Alpaca, Light Horse, Heavy Horse, Dairy Cows, Charolais Calves, Prospect Steers, Speckle Park Calves, Angus Heifers, and Commercial Bulls. 

After a photo session and lunch, 
competitors finished off the 
competition by giving oral reasons on 8 of the previously judged classes. This year, oral reasons were given in the Queensbury Building, which was a new (and quieter!) location compared to previous years. After the intense competition, competitors then enjoyed supper, swimming and social time back at the hotel. Tuesday morning, the Awards Banquet was held, also in the Queensbury building. Competitors 
received a tasty breakfast and met the event sponsors, followed by the announcements of the final placings of this prestigious event. The results were as follows:
Grand Aggregate ($2,500 Scholarship, CWA belt buckle and banner, & First Lady Classic Judging Position):  Adam Smith, University of Guelph
2nd Place ($1,250 John Deere Limited Scholarship & CWA belt buckle & banner):  Justin Harcourt, 4-H Saskatchewan
3rd Place ($750 John Deere Limited Scholarship & CWA belt buckle):  Brandon Fraser, Summer Synergy
4th Place ($300 Cash Prize):  Jayden Calvert, Summer Synergy
5th Place ($150 Cash Prize):  Leah Libke, 4-H Saskatchewan
Team Award - Top 4 Scores per team (Plaque on display at Provincial 4-H Office):  4-H Saskatchewan

High point awards per class were listed as follows. Several recipients for these awards are past or present 4-H members!  

• Silage - Adam Smith;  
• Meat Cuts - Brandon Fraser;  
• Water Quality – Carlee Nikiforuk (University of Alberta);  
• Alpaca – Justin Harcourt;  
• Light Horse – Zachary Hill (Manitoba Youth Beef Round-up);  
• Heavy Horse – Wyatt Millar (University of Saskatchewan);  
• Dairy Cows – Leah Graham (Manitoba Youth Beef Round-up);  
• Charolais – Justin Harcourt; 
•  Prospects – Connor Douglas (Olds College);  
• Speckle Park – Justin Harcourt;  
• Angus Heifers – Connor Douglas;  
• Commercial Bulls – Kylie Beck (University of Saskatchewan).

Thank you to the team chaperones, Louise Sroka and Brittany Stepp. Event sponsors included TD Canada Trust and Federated Cooperatives. Congratulations to 4-H Saskatchewan’s amazing judging team!