Save the dates for these upcoming State 4-H Livestock Events
State 4-H Meat Judging Contest: Feb 6, 2027
State 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl and Skillathon Contests: March 13, 2027
Watch your inboxes and our social media pages for more information on registrations in the upcoming months.
As always, if you have any questions, please contact Bernie O’Rourke – who is our amazing resource for all things livestock – at borourke2@wisc.edu/phone at 608-263-4304. You can also connect with Jill at jill.jorgensen@wisc.edu/phone at 920-391-4659.
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4-H Meats Judging – Saturday, February 6, 2027
Location: Meat Science and Animal Biologics Discovery Building, UW Madison Campus
What is the 4-H Meats Judging Contest? Have you been to your local meat market or grocery store lately and think you could choose the best cut of meat out of the case? Have you ever watched a live animal contest and thought you could choose what animals would provide the best meat products? This is your opportunity to put those skills to work. This contest tests the knowledge of youth in the placement of carcass and retail cut classes, carcass grading, and retail cut identification. Top teams earn the opportunity to compete at regional and national competitions.
Who can participate? Any current 4-H members grades 3-13. Please note, there are age divisions for each of those contests and parameters for grade 13 members. Please see the contest information in the contest and registration materials on the website for more information on the age divisions. Cloverbud project members are not eligible to participate in this experience.
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Livestock Skillathon and Quiz Bowl – March 13, 2027
Location: UW Madison Campus, Animal Science Building and Stock Pavillion
What are these events?
Livestock Bowl is a quiz competition where all the questions are about beef, sheep, swine, and meat goat topics and students use a buzzer in order to answer the questions. Teams compete in a double elimination format by giving oral answers to questions posed by a moderator. Each match has both an individual and toss-up question round. The winning 4-H senior team will represent Wisconsin at the National 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl competition held each fall in Louisville at the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE).
Skillathon contest is made up of a written quiz and learning stations such as breed identification, feed identification, equipment identification as well as some team activities such as demonstrating evaluation skills. The top Senior level 4-H team will represent Wisconsin at the National 4-H Skillathon Contest, held each fall in Louisville at the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE).
Competition in Quiz Bowl & Skillathon encourages members to develop a more complete knowledge of animals and related subjects. This contest provides an educational program for all project members, including those who may not own a project animal, and provides a way to develop self-confidence. These programs are a great parallel to some similar programs that breed associations and other organizations conduct.
Who can participate? Any current 4-H members grades 3-13. Please note, there are age divisions for each of those contests and parameters for grade 13 members. Please see the contest information in the contest and registration materials on the website for more information on the age divisions. Cloverbud project members are not eligible to participate in this experience.
Even if your county has not participated in the past, round-up some 4-H friends and take advantage of this fun opportunity to show your knowledge of the animal species and industry.