Four Keokuk County 4-H members represented the county at the Iowa State University Livestock Judging Contest earlier this month. 

Madison Fry, Izzy Heisdorffer, Jake Clarahan, and Sawyer Cason spent the day at the Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center evaluating a variety of livestock classes alongside college-level competitors.

Classes included led heifers, loose feedlot cattle, loose bulls, ewes, does, and market hogs. The contest was primarily designed for college students preparing for the National Western Stock Show, a high-level judging environment. Keokuk County Youth Coordinator Ashley Yedlik says the experience still provided valuable, hands-on learning.

The group ultimately finished 12th out of 48 teams.