Teams from Grand Forks and Stark-Billings counties took first place in their respective divisions of the state 4-H meat judging contest.

The Stark-Billings team of Quinn Polensky, Jess Schulz, Katie Schmidt, Taylor Downing, William Schmidt, Wyatt Dorner and Justin Kathrein placed first in the senior division.

The Stark-Billings County team of Tony Dorner, Rawley Kessel, Joel Schulz and Mark Schmidt took first place in the intermediate division.

The Grand Forks County team of Cody Draxton, Madison Todd, Bernt Draxton and Levi Todd received first place in the junior division.

Individual placings by division were:

Senior Division

• First - William Schmidt, Stark-Billings County (also received Head of the Herd Award)
• Second - Taylor Downing, Stark-Billings County
• Third - Wyatt Dorner, Stark-Billings County
• Fourth - Katie Schmidt, Stark-Billings County
• Fifth - Justin Kathrein, Stark-Billings County
• Sixth - Jess Schulz, Stark-Billings County
• Seventh - Quinn Polensky, Stark-Billings County

Intermediate Division

• First - Mark Schmidt, Stark-Billings County (also received Head of the Herd Award)
• Second - Joel Schulz, Stark-Billings County
• Third - Joshua Todd, Grand Forks County
• Fourth - Tony Dorner, Stark-Billings County
• Fifth - Leah Mehling, Grand Forks County
• Sixth - Rawley Kessel , Stark-Billings County

Junior Division

• First - Levi Todd, Grand Forks County (also received the Head of the Herd Award)
• Second - Bernt Draxton, Grand Forks County
• Third - Samantha Kathrein, Stark-Billings County
• Fourth - Joe Schmidt, Stark-Billings County
• Fifth - Emmit Dorner, Stark-Billings County
• Sixth - Cody Draxton, Grand Forks County
• Seventh - Madison Todd, Grand Forks County

“Events like these are incredibly valuable to 4-H’ers because they serve as a platform to build key life skills such as decision-making, communication and confidence, but also provide an opportunity to gain practical skills they can utilize through life as they visit the grocery store or butcher shop,” says Leigh Ann Skurupey, interim chair of North Dakota State University Extension’s Center for 4-H Youth Development.

NDSU Agriculture Communication - May 21, 2021

Source: Leigh Ann Skurupey, 701-231-6658, leighann.skurupey@ndsu.edu

Editor: Ellen Crawford, 701-231-5391, ellen.crawford@ndsu.edu