Oliver County's team placed first in the 4-H senior division of the J.H. Shepperd Livestock Judging Contest hosted by the North Dakota Winter Show.

The team earned the right to represent North Dakota 4-H at the Eastern National livestock judging contest in Louisville, Ky., in November. Team members also received plaques sponsored by the North Dakota Stockmen's Association

The team from Stark and Billings counties placed second and is eligible to represent North Dakota in the Western National livestock judging contest in Denver, Colo., in January.

Teams representing Mercer County, Bowman/Dunn/McKenzie counties and Emmons County placed third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

Members of the Oliver County team are Joe Liffrig, Brittany Klein and Kortney Johnson and alternates Randy Bittner, Jessica Liffrig and Alex Gilbert. Rick Schmidt is the coach.

Members of the Stark-Billings team are April Baumgarten, Jake Baumgarten and Alecia Dukart and alternates Katelin Dukart and Laura Steffan. Kurt Froelich and Jared Bollinger are the coaches.

Courtney Wolff from Dickey County received the Mel Kirkeide Award for placing first individually with a score of 419 out of a possible 450 points.

In the 4-H junior division, the Stark-Billings team placed first. Team members are Kara Froelich, Luke Dukart and Kelsey Hondl and alternates Quinn Steffan, Michaela Kathrein, Summer Pedersen and Nicole Urlacher.

The Morton, Adams, Ransom and McKenzie teams placed second through fifth, respectively.

Kara Froelich of Stark-Billings placed first individually.

Agriculture Communication