Nixon shines at 4-H/FFA contest

Contributed
Published: July 3, 2008

Orange County 4-H member Elizabeth Nixon earned multiple awards in the State 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging Contest, held in Blacksburg on June 18.
She placed third overall in the contest and was fourth-highest individual in oral reasons. In addition, Elizabeth was fourth in sheep, seventh in hogs and sixth in cattle.
The day featured eight classes of four animals each, including bulls, heifers, steers and market and breeding hogs and lambs. Contestants had to evaluate each animal in the class, compare it to breed and market standards for muscling and conformation, and then rank the four animals. Oral reasons consisted of the young judges defending their decisions for their placing and making an oral presentation to an experienced judge.
Reseach shows that youth livestock judging events strengthen a 4-H member’s decision-making skills, improves his/her communication abilities and improves youth self-confidence.
Elizabeth practices her skills on her family’s Glenmary Farm in Rapidan, where they raise beef cattle and sheep. In addition, she has attended a number of clinics and workshops at local farms and throughout the extension district. Elizabeth is a member of Orange County 4-H Judging and Stockman’s Team and serves as secretary of Orange 4-H Livestock Club. She will exhibit steers, market lambs and ewe lambs at the Orange County Fair in July, most of which are bred and owned, meaning she owned the mother at the time of conception and has raised the animals from birth.
For more information on 4-H activities, please call the Orange Extension Office at 672-1361. 4-H is open to all youth ages five to 18 who wish to participate.