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State Livestock Skill-a-Thon

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The North Dakota 4-H Livestock Skill-a-Thon Contest allows youth enrolled in 4-H Livestock projects to enhance skills in livestock equipment identification, breed identification, retail meat cut identification, wool judging, hay evaluation, quality assurance exercises, and more. Additionally, this contest improves their communication and decision-making skills giving them invaluable life skills towards career development. This contest provides an educational program for all project members, including those who may not own a project animal.

Sections

Objectives and Outcomes

Stimulate learning in animal science and agricultural industry;
Youth develop positive interests and attitudes about livestock, animal science, and related careers;
Youth gain a base of knowledge of the livestock project and the livestock industry;
Youth will utilize skills and abilities to solve everyday situations;
Youth gain valuable producer experience;
Reward 4-H members for knowledge gained in a subject matter area;
Provide a competitive setting where attitudes of friendliness and fairness prevail;
Participants will process information, analyze complex problems, and make informed decisions regarding current livestock decisions;
Develop teamwork, self-confidence, public speaking, and decision-making skills;
An increased number of participants seek out higher education opportunities and careers related to animal science.

Pre-Registration Required

Please pre-register online at JudgingCard.com: https://www.judgingcard.com/

The deadline to avoid late charges is two weeks prior to the contest date. The deadline allows proper planning, lunch coordination, etc. Please email “new person” a minimum of one week prior to the contest for youth with dietary needs. Coaches/chaperones may also order a lunch on judgingcard.com.
To register, use your North Dakota county 4-H number and “ND” as your username and password. Example” If my county number is 7777, I would put ND7777 for the username and ND7777 for the password. County numbers are listed on the last page of this document. Do NOT change your password. All teams in your county that use a scantron will use this same county code login.
County codes are found on the last page of these rules.

Contestants and Eligibility

Contestants must be enrolled in North Dakota 4-H (4Honline) as a full-time member in the county they represent. Short-term 4-H members are not eligible to compete at the state level.
Counties may enter any number of participants in either age division. The high three individual scores will determine the team score.
All participants are eligible for individual awards.
Counties may combine to form a team provided neither county has more than 2 participants. Combination teams must pre-register together for the appropriate age group. A team of three (3) may not pick up a fourth member from another county.
1. Both counties and coaches from the different teams must approve the combining of individuals for a team.
Contestants in the senior division must be 14 to 18 years old as of Dec. 31, the previous year. The junior division is for members 8 to 13 years of age as of Dec. 31, the previous year.
While the contest is in progress, there shall be NO conferring between contestants or anyone else other than the Contest Superintendents, Group Leaders, or their representatives. 50 points will be deducted from the total score for each talking infraction reported.
Individuals with disabilities are invited to request reasonable accommodations to participate in NDSU-sponsored programs and events. To request an accommodation(s), please contact “new person” at 701-231-7251 one week prior to the contest to make arrangements.
4-H members are not eligible for this contest if:
1. He/she has Participated in the National 4-H Livestock Skill-a-Thon Contest.
2. He/she has participated in official post-secondary (university, college, junior college, or technical school) competitive events of a similar nature in the same subject matter area. Neither can he/she be a member of a post-secondary team undergoing training in preparation for an event.

Contest Divisions

Each age division is considered a separate contest and youth may enter one of the following divisions.

Junior 4-H division: Youth ages 8 to 13 years old and enrolled in North Dakota 4-H as a full-time 4-H member (not a short-term member) as of December 31, 2024.
Senior 4-H division: Youth ages 14 to 18 on December 31, 2024, and enrolled in North Dakota 4-H as a full-time 4-H member (not a short-term member).
County agents and coaches are responsible for determining the age and member eligibility of participants in the State 4-H Livestock Skill-a-Thon Contest from their respective clubs.

Dress Code

Contest Guidelines

National 4-H Contest rules will apply. Local managers may modify rules and procedures as needed to conduct the event in the allowed time.

A coaches' meeting will be held on Friday night before the contest. At this time the program will be explained and contest interactions will be given. Coaches/agents should be prepared to check the names, addresses, and ages of their contestants. Coaches are needed to help run the contest smoothly, please volunteer to help in some capacity. Substitutions/ changes may be made at this time or at registration on the day of the contest.
No electronic devices (phones, tablets, computers, smart watches, etc.) will be allowed during the contest.
All electronic communication devices of any kind are prohibited. Contestants should remove these devices prior to the start of the contest. If a contestant’s phone should ring, or if they are discovered using such electronic devices during the contest, the contestant and their team may be disqualified. Contestants may use a blank steno pad or a clipboard and blank paper. The contestants may not bring books, notes, pamphlets, or other reference material into the contest area. Contest officials reserve the right to check all contestant’s notepads or clipboards to make sure they are blank prior to the contest. Simple calculators will be provided at stations where they have been deemed helpful/necessary by the officials. Violators are subject to contest dismissal and disqualification.
Contestants are not to pick up or touch any item that is being identified or evaluated in the individual competition classes unless otherwise directed by contest officials.
The contest will be divided into two rounds. In the first round of the contest, one group will participate in the team-oriented classes while the other group will complete the individual competitor classes of the contest. In the second round, the two large groups will switch areas of competition.
During the individual competition round of the contest, contestants will be further divided into groups and will remain with that assigned group throughout that contest round of classes. While completing the individual competition classes, there will be no conferring between contestants or between a contestant and anyone else except as directed by contest officials. Contestants will be allowed 15 minutes to complete each individual competition class.
Team members will complete one official answer sheet for each team exercise, representing the combined effort of all team members. Teams will be allowed 18 minutes to complete the group assignment for each class and turn in their answer sheet. During the team competition round of the contest, contestants will be allowed to confer only with team members during the time period allowed for each class.
Scantrons will be used for the entire contest. An example scantron for practice has been provided on our website: https://www.ndsu.edu/4h/programs_events/state_4_h_contests/livestock_judging/
Contestants must bring their own #2 pencils if scantron is utilized, clipboards, or judging books to take notes for oral reasons.
It is the individual’s responsibility to ensure their scantron is filled out properly if it is utilized for the contest. This includes:
1. Erased bubbles on the scantron are erased well so the scanner does not pick up a double-marked answer.
2. Scantron bubbles are filled in neatly and dark enough for the scanner to read the bubble correctly.
3. Scantrons will NOT be evaluated or checked for inaccuracy due to the error of the contestant.
4. Please make sure to double-check scantrons before they are handed in. Once they are handed in, they will NOT be returned for any reason.
Contestants should not have paper, cards, or notes to assist during the contest.

Classes Completed as an Individual

Livestock Equipment Identification: (60 possible points) Identify the proper name for pieces of equipment used in livestock production.
Livestock Breed Identification: (60 possible points) Identify from photographs or pictures livestock (beef cattle, swine, sheep, and goat (non-dairy)) breeds. Contestants must also match the breed with the most appropriate description supplied for each breed.
Retail meat cut identification: (60 possible points) Identify beef, lamb, and pork retail cuts from the National 4-H Meat Judging Retail ID List. Contestants will identify the retail cut species, primal cut, and retail cut name.
Wool Judging Class: Rank a class of four wool samples with analysis information (40 possible points). Answer up to 10 questions about the class (20 possible points).
Hay Judging Class: Rank a class of four hay samples with analysis information (40 possible points). Answer up to 10 questions about the class (20 possible points).
Quality Assurance Exercise: (60 possible points) Example tasks include: demonstrating how to read a medicine label, calculate withdrawal times, complete a treatment record, and make responsible management decisions regarding quality assurance.
Quiz: (60 possible points) Complete a 30-question multiple choice quiz concerning the total livestock industry.

Total possible individual points = 420

Classes Completed as a Team

Quality Assurance Exercise: (100 possible points) Demonstrate how to read an animal health product label, calculate dosage rates and withdrawal times, complete a treatment record, be familiar with administration routes, animal identification, and restraint methods, and make responsible management decisions regarding quality assurance. (This may involve live animals depending on availability.)
Meat & Carcass Evaluation & Marketing: (100 possible points) May include ranking one (1) class of four similar retail cuts, evaluating photos of carcasses, and also price carcasses using a grid.
Animal Breeding Scenario and Exercise: (100 possible points) Team members will evaluate a breeding animal scenario and make animal selection/marketing decisions based upon performance/visual data to rank breeding animals or market them for use within the situation. May include questions on adjusted weaning weights or other common measures of breeding livestock performance. May include an oral presentation.
Management, Performance & Marketing Problem(s): (100 possible points) Determine best options for management and marketing of livestock (e.g., should producers sell calves at weaning, retain ownership through feedlot, combination), when provided with information on markets and performance to evaluate. Verbally defend decisions.
Livestock Feeding: (100 possible points) Identify the proper name for livestock feeds and identify each corresponding nutrient group. Feed samples and lists of feed names and nutrient groups will be provided. Utilizing feed ingredients given, formulate a ration for a group of livestock.
Reproduction: (100 possible points) Identify reproductive tract organs and functions and/or reproductive management equipment for livestock species. Demonstrate common reproductive management techniques such as artificial insemination or the use of CIDRs.

Total possible team points = 600

General Rules

Juniors – can compete individually, on a team, or both.
Seniors – can compete individually, on a team, or both.
Individual Events – 420 total possible points
Fifteen minutes will be given at each station. The contest will consist of any or all of the following classes: livestock equipment identification, livestock breed identification, retail meat cut identification, wool judging, hay judging, quality assurance exercise, and a quiz.
Team Events – 600 total possible points

Eighteen minutes will be given at each station. The contest will consist of any or all of the following classes: Quality assurance exercise, meat and carcass evaluation and marketing, animal breeding scenario and exercise, management performance and marketing problems, livestock feeding, and reproduction.

Recorders, Cameras, Cellphones and Beepers

1. Tape recorders may not be used at any time during the conduct of a match. If caught, the team associated with the individual will be disqualified.

2. No recording devices such as video cameras, movie cameras, or any other type of camera may be used during the competition. If caught, the team associated with the individual will be disqualified.

3. Photographs will be permitted only before or after a match and then only in a manner that’s not disruptive to the contest.

4. Please turn off cellphones and beepers when in the contest room or leave them outside the contest room. If caught on the phone, teams associated with the individual will be disqualified. Phones and other electronics must be left outside the contest/holding rooms.

5. Transcribing contest questions by any means is prohibited. No handwriting, typing, recording, or computer use will be allowed in the contest rooms. Affiliated teams will be eliminated from the competition for violation of this rule.

Tie-Breaking

All ties overall, individual and team, will be broken using the following sequence:

Individual Competition (420 Points Possible)

Individual Quality Assurance & Assessment Score (Total of QA exercise and industry quiz)
Individual Evaluation Score (Total of all evaluation stations: Wool, Meats, & Hay Judging)
Individual Identification Score (Total of all ID stations: Livestock Products, Breeds, & Retail Meat Cuts)

Team Competition (600 Points Possible)

Team Quality Assurance Score
Team Management, Performance & Marketing Problem Score
Team Livestock Feeding Score

Awards

Awards will be presented for high overall scoring individuals and teams. The number of awards will be based on a predetermined procedure of play which includes the number of teams participating and the time allocated for the contest. In general, the top three scoring teams and the top five scoring individuals in both age divisions will be recognized.

Excellence Award for the top 20% of individual contestants.

Results

Officials

Superintendent(s): Oversees all aspects of the contest, assists contestants and other officials. Arrange for qualified Judge(s). Publicize contest. Ensure rules are updated. Arrange for and select materials, equipment, and products necessary for each station. Secure other officials, supplies, and paperwork to efficiently run the contest. Establish a contest on Judgincard.com and develop a contest within the system. Introduces the contest and ensures the PA system is working. Works to ensure stations are conducted in a professional and timely manner. Superintendents will oversee score tabulation. Assists in presenting awards and posting awards results.
Moderator(s): The moderator assumes complete direction of the contest (may also be the superintendent), and calls the rotation of the participants from station to station. The moderator will monitor elapsed time for each timed rotation of stations allowing 15/18 minutes for each station to be completed, giving adequate time for each rotation to settle in prior to starting the time clock after each rotation.
Team Event Judge(s): A judge can be anyone with a strong background in livestock production. The judge(s) will evaluate and score participant skills and participation during applicable team events.
Group leaders: Volunteers, coaches, chaperones, and agents that assist with leading each group of contestants during the rotation of stations. They are responsible for collecting scantrons when complete from each participant. They are the only individuals that participants are allowed to talk to during the individual stations of the contest. Group leaders help to ensure participants are not talking amongst themselves and report illegal behavior (cell phones, talking, cheating, etc.) to the superintendent or moderator.

Extra volunteers: May help with the registration desk. May help set up individual and team stations. May help superintendents with score tabulation and posting of results on judgingcard.com.

State Livestock Skill-a-Thon

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