State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest

Event Details:

Location: Hardy Farms (Farmington, ME) and Silver Valley Farm (New Sharon, ME)
Date: May 6, 2023

The 2023 Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Contest will be held on May 6th at Hardy Farm in Farmington, ME and Silver Valley Farm in New Sharon, ME.  The event is open to all enrolled 4-H dairy members and will serve as the official tryouts for the 2023 Maine 4-H Eastern States Dairy Judging Team. Check back soon for a complete schedule for the day.

Schedule:

9:30 am: Arrival and Registrations (Hardy Farm)
10:00 am: Introductions and Event Overview
10:15 am: Class #1
10:30 am: Class #2
10:45 am: Class #3
11:15 am: Arrive at Silver Valley Farm
11:30 am: Class #4
11:45 am: Class #5
12:00 pm: Lunch (Lunch will be on your own. Please bring a bagged lunch or make plans as needed)
12:45 pm: Reasons (followed by Awards)

Access to restrooms may be limited. Using the restroom before arriving is strongly recommended.

Eligibility:

The Maine 4-H Dairy Judging contest is open to all enrolled 4-H dairy members ages 9-18. Youth will be divided into two age categories, Jr. ages 9-11 and Sr. ages 12-18. Members who meet the ESE dairy team participation requirements are eligible to compete for a spot on the 2023 Maine 4-H Eastern States Dairy Judging Team. Four team members and two team alternates will be selected.

In order to be eligible for participation on the Maine 4-H Eastern States Dairy Judging Team, 4-H members must meet the following requirements:

  1. Completed at least one year in the 4-H dairy program
  2. Submitted their county 4-H re-enrollment by December 31st of the current 4-H year (4-H staff will verify this with your county office)
  3. Submitted a 2023 ESE intent to participate form by February 15th

4-H members who are not eligible for the ESE dairy judging team are still encouraged to participate in the contest.

Contest Rules:

  • Participants in the judging contest will be asked to judge five classes of cattle, 2 of which will be reasons classes.
  • Official cuts will be determined by the contest judge. The total cuts will be no more than 15 points, with no more than 5 points on the middle cut.
  • Sr. members must give reasons on each of the two reasons classes and can earn between 20 and 45 points per set of reasons.
  • In the case of a tie, the tie is broken by the total reason’s score. If contestants are tied there as well, it will be considered a tie.
  • We ask that all juniors go in and talk with the judges and try to give reasons. 50 points will be awarded to each junior member that goes in to talk to each reasons judge.
  • The high-scoring Sr. and high-scoring Jr. will be named the winners of each division.

For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or 207.342.5971.