Several North Dakota youth placed at the recent Western National Roundup in Denver, Colo.

The North Dakotans were among more than 900 4-H and FFA youth from 30-plus states and Alberta, Canada, who competed in the Western National Roundup on Jan. 8-11. States may enter one team in each of the contests at the Western National Roundup.

Horse Judging

The North Dakota horse judging team placed fifth overall and fourth in the halter division, sixth in the performance division and seventh in the reasons division. Team members were Shaylee Miller, Kara Scheresky and Kali Miller of Ward County.

Horse judging is a competitive event in which youth develop and improve their ability to envision the ideal horse and recognize desirable and undesirable characteristics in the horses they are judging.

In individual competition:

• Scheresky - seventh overall, fourth in the performance division, 16th in the halter division and 17th in the reasons division
• Kali Miller - 12th in the halter division and 16th in the reasons division
• Shaylee Miller - 14th overall and 15th in the halter division

Consumer Choices

The consumer choices team of Shane Giedd, Tanner Berger, Emily Klein and Rebecca Liffrig from Oliver County placed third overall, and second in the decision-making reasons and decision-making group think divisions.

Consumer choices teaches youth how to make decisions based on the information they have learned from studying particular articles or products. Youth learn to rank those articles or products based on standards and quality, and defend their decisions.

Klein was fifth high individual in this competition.

Livestock Judging

The Kidder County livestock judging team placed 11th overall and eighth in reasons. Team members were Monica Fitterer, Megan Gross, Kacey Koester and Aaron Subart.

In livestock judging, youth evaluate classes of animals and rank them based on conformation and how they will fulfill a role in a given production scenario. Contestants defend their placing with oral reasons.

Meats Judging

The meats judging team of Jonathan Rosencrans, Dylan Enger and Daniel Bolen of Mountrail County placed second.

The meats judging contest consists of identifying meat cuts and cooking preparation. The teams also rank several classes of cuts or carcasses and defend their ranking with oral reasons.

In individual competition:

• Rosencrans - second overall, first in placing, second in retail identification and forth in reasons
• Bolen - seventh overall, fifth in placing, seventh in retail identification and 11th in reasons
• Enger - 12th overall, eighth in reasons, 13th in retail identification and 14th in placing

Horse Quiz Bowl

The state team placed seventh. Team members are Cheyenne Liedle, Shambre Feiring, Taylor Smith and Haley Goodall of Mountrail County and Maria Levin of Stutsman County.

The Horse quiz bowl allows youth to demonstrate their knowledge of equine-related subjects in a game format using buzzer systems.

Horse Individual Demonstration

Emma Howey of Sargent County placed seventh.

Participants in this contest prepare and present a demonstration on a horse topic of their choice. The demonstrations provide information and show how something is done. Participants are evaluated on the content and delivery of the presentation.

NDSU Agriculture Communication - Jan. 26, 2015

(Photos courtesy of westernationalroundup, https://www.flickr.com/photos/westernnationalroundup/collections/72157649856174710/)