Kidder and Stark/Billings County teams took top honors in the State 4-H Meat Judging Contest held recently in the meat laboratory at North Dakota State University’s Shepperd Arena.

The North Dakota 4-H Meat Judging Contest provides an opportunity for youth enrolled in 4-H livestock projects to enhance their carcass evaluation and retail identification skills.

”Meat judging programs are currently the most effective tool for the recruitment and development of future meat science technologists in existence today,” says Leigh Ann Skurupey, NDSU Extension’s 4-H youth development animal and equine science specialist. “Meat judging is more than the determination of the quality and lean meat yield of a carcass or wholesale cut that affect the safety and taste of the products we consume. The North Dakota 4-H meat science project serves as a training tool to develop young leaders in the meat and livestock industries.

“Contestants step into a meat cooler, where food safety is the first priority in this project area because there is a consumable, uncooked product being judged,” she adds. “4-H’ers move from table or carcasses hanging on a hook to evaluate the meat products.”

This project area helps youth improve life skills such as decision-making, communication skills and confidence, but also provides an opportunity for them to gain a practical skill they can use through life as they visit the grocery store or butcher shop. Youth gain the skills to examine cuts of meat and determine which is the highest quality with the most flavor.

“Whether they cook for themselves or others, they will gain a useful skill to perfect as they gain experience,” Skurupey notes. “Just as important, this contest advances a participant’s knowledge of the livestock and meat industry. This contest provides an educational program for all project members, including those who may not own a project animal.”

The winning 4-H senior meat judging team will represent North Dakota at the National 4-H Meat Evaluation and Identification Contest as part of the American Royal Livestock Show in Manhattan, Kan., in October.

Senior Division

The top teams were:

• First - Kidder County, with team members Ryeleigh Laib, Rhea Laib, Bradyn Lachenmeier, Madelyn Schmidt, Austin Schmidt and Danny Keily (coach Gary Martens)
• Second - Stark-Billings County, with team members Kia Ward, Victoria Trochez, William Schmidt, Taylor Downing, Justin Kathrein and Wyatt Dorner (coach Kurt Froelich)
• Third - Ward County, with team members Matthew Schauer, Ethan Myers, Tate Novodvorsky, David Scheresky and Kaden Korgel (coaches Jacob Scheresky and Christopher Rockeman)

Individual winners were:

• First - Ryeleigh Laib
• Second - Rhea Laib
• Third - Lachenmeier
• Fourth - Ward
• Fifth - Schauer

Intermediate Division

The top teams were:

• First - Stark-Billings County, with team members Katie Schmidt, Jess Schulz and Quin Polensky (coach Kurt Froelich)
• Second - Ward County, with team members Layne Korgel, Mark Schauer, Danny Kersten and Cole Huesers (coaches Jacob Scheresky and Christopher Rockeman)
• Third - Towner County, with team members Chloe Marquardt and Oscar Laufer (coach Hanna Nordby)

Individual winners were:

• First - Korgel
• Second - Schmidt
• Third - Schulz
• Fourth - Marquardt
• Fifth - Schauer

Junior Division

The top team was:

• First - Stark-Billings County, with team members Joel Schultz, Mark Schmidt, Rawley Kessel, Tony Dorner and Joe Schmidt (coach Kurt Froelich)

Individual winners were:

• First - Schulz
• Second - Mark Schmidt
• Third - Kessel
• Fourth - Dorner
• Fifth - Joe Schmidt

Complete results for the State 4-H Meat Judging Contest are posted at https://www.judgingcard.com/Results/Events.aspx?ID=10716.

NDSU Agriculture Communication - June 18, 2019