Livestock team competes nationally

By Carrie A. Mizell

Representing Florida at the national 4-H livestock judging contest was quite an experience for four Gilchrist County teenagers who traveled to Denver, Colorado for the competition.
Two of the teens and one of the adults had never flown on an airplane before and several of the Florida delegation had never seen snow before.
“This experience proved to be extremely educational and memorable on many levels,” said Chris DeCubellis, 4-H agent for Gilchrist County.

Erin Jones of Wilcox 4-H Club, Nathan Thisse of Osceola 4-H Club, and Desiree and Danielle Holstein, both of Windy Meadows 4-H Club, qualified to compete in Denver at the national contest, which was held in conjunction with the Western National Roundup and the 106th Annual National Western Stock Show.
“Thanks to an outpouring from local businesses, local officials and caring individuals the team was able to travel to Denver and compete in this prestigious event,” DeCubellis said.
Accompanied by 4-H leader and parent Jean Jones and 4-H parent and leader Kayleen Holstein, as well as DeCubellis, the team toured Colorado Springs on Thursday, Jan. 5. The sights included a number of landmarks, the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, the U.S. Air Force Academy, the foothills of Pike’s Peak and the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and Museum.
On Friday, Jan. 6 the team traveled to Fort Collins to practice livestock judging at Colorado State University. After practice, the team competed in the first ever national livestock quiz bowl contest. According to DeCubellis, the contest has a game show feel with contestants buzzing in to answer questions about beef cattle, hogs, goats and sheep.
Team members were delighted to learn at the awards banquet, held on January 8, that they had placed third in the nation in the quiz bowl contest.
On Thursday, Jan. 7, the team competed in the livestock judging contest before touring the Western National Livestock Exhibition on January 8. The following day the team bid farewell to Colorado and the experience of a lifetime.
At the awards banquet, the team won reserve grand champion in the meat goat judging contest. In the beef cattle judging contest, the team placed 8th in the nation. The team also finished in the middle of the pack overall, with about 40 teams from all over the United States and Canada competing.
“The quality of livestock at the National Exhibition was amazing,” DeCubellis said. “Thanks to everyone who helped the team make it to Denver, and it is hoped the community is proud of how well these fine young people represented Gilchrist County and the state of Florida.”