Union County 4-H Members 
Putnam County 4-H Members
On Saturday, October 13, the Georgia National Fair hosted their annual Peachstate Livestock Judging Contest at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry, Ga. where several teams from Florida heading to national contests in just a short while competed representing the Sunshine State with more outstanding finishes.
Florida 4-H was represented by teams from Union County and Putnam County, and Florida FFA was represented by at team from Lafayette FFA, who all competed against youth from across the Southeast.
Representing 4-H, the team from Union County 4-H included Bailee Shepperd, Madison Bennett, Kendal Stalnaker and Hunter Williams. Together, the team was named as the overall winner for the senior division of the contest, with Shepperd and Bennett winning individual awards. (Left Photo)
Also representing 4-H, Putnam County 4-H was represented by a senior team that included Abby Whittington, Emily Lands, Clayton Brauman and Jarrett Douglas and by Dathan Guthrie, who judged as an individual in the junior/intermediate division. As a team, the seniors placed as the reserve champion team for the senior division. As an individual, Guthrie was named as the reserve high individual overall in the junior/intermediate division as well as the high individual for oral reasons and swine. (Right Photo)
Rounding out the Sunshine State, Lafayette FFA also fielded a team in the senior division in this year’s contest, also placing in the top five, with approximately 25 teams and 100 individuals competing in this year’s contest.
Congratulations to each of these teams on their accomplishments, and best of luck to each of them as they continue their journeys to national contests: Union County 4-H to the Western National Roundup in Denver this winter, Putnam County 4-H to the American Royal Association in Kansas City, Mo. and Lafayette FFA to National FFA Convention in Indianapolis this fall.
The University of Florida Livestock Judging Team also competed in the collegiate division at the contest.
Livestock judging is an event designed to test the evaluation and decision making skills of students through evaluating market and breeding beef cattle, swine, sheep and meat goats as well as the defense of their placings via oral reasons.
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