Wyomingites find success at NWSS
Published on Feb. 1, 2020
Denver – From 4-H and FFA, to the collegiate level, judging teams and showmen from across Wyoming found success at the National Western Livestock Show (NWSS) held in Denver.
4-H judging winners
Multiple Albany County 4-H teams found success during NWSS judging contest events.
The wool judging team came out in first place at the NWSS youth wool judging contest, which is in its second year of existence. Whaley was also able to send a second team, who finished seventh overall.
“This is only the second year NWSS has hosted this contest so its not very big,” says Whaley. “I have been coaching the team for two years and my students had expressed some interest in going in preparation for the Wyoming State 4-H wool judging contest.”
Whaley explains the ages and experience levels of the team members varies greatly. Students on the team range in age between nine and 15, with some having a lifetime of experience and others just getting through their first year in the program.
The team placed first overall. Member Kymber Stinson was first in reasons, third in grading, fourth in questions and seventh overall. Shea Churches was first in grading and third overall. Tucker Smith was fourth in questions and Shanna Stinson was third in reasons.
“Getting kids engaged in judging contests at a young age helps them get plugged into the livestock and sheep industries later on,” says Albany County 4-H Wool Judging Coach Jaelyn Whaley. “They may not stick with wool judging forever but it builds a strong foundation for them to judge at higher levels – whether it be wool or livestock and meats.”
Albany County meat judgers also found success at NWSS during the Western National Roundup judging competition.
The team placed third overall with a second-place finish in retail ID and fourth place finish in reasons. Team members Malea Christensen was first in retail ID and sixth overall individual. Alexis Lake finished seventh overall individually.
Collegiate results
Collegiate judgers also found success at NWSS.
The University of Wyoming livestock judging team was first in the team carload contest and fourth overall in livestock judging.
In the carload contest, Chase Markel was the overall high individual and Cindy Mansfield was the 10th place individual.
The team placed fourth in the livestock judging contest with a second-place finish in hogs and a fourth-place finish in cattle.
Jess Moody was second overall individually, with a seventh-place finish in hogs and eighth in cattle.
Tanner Wright was eighth in hogs and 10th in cattle individually. Baxter Boldon tied for first in feedlot cattle.
In addition, Torrington native Kaden Malm was a part of the Butler Community College Livestock Judging team, who placed first in the Junior College Division.
Livestock show results
Saige Ward of Laramie exhibited a division champion Hereford at the Junior Heifer Show. The Laramie senior has been showing Herefords since she was seven years old. She will show this heifer again at the state Hereford show, Albany County Fair, National Hereford Expo and Wyoming State Fair.
Garrett Burkett of Casper took a home-raised Dorset and weather dam to Denver and was the Reserve Champion AOB Ewe Lamb in the junior show and Supreme Champion Breeding Sheep Weather Dam in the open show and reserve in the junior show. He was also the Grand Champion Breeding Sheep Showman. Garrett is in seventh grade and apart of the young guns 4-H club.
Shane Dawson of Lander was named the Reserve Grand Champion Catch-A-Calf winner.
“I’ve shown cattle for about four years now. I have always been around cattle growing up, just didn’t start showing until fairly recently,” she explains.
The Lander Valley High School senior loves how inclusive the Catch-a-Calf program is and notes she found a new sense of responsibility through the program.
Dawson will be attending University of Wyoming to study foreign policy and political science, with the hopes of going to law school.
Callie Hanson is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
