-
Image
Senior All-Star Team, from left: Josie Baker, Charles Goodnight and Rance Greiman. Not pictured: Brody Swindler. -
Image
Champion Senior Team – Clinton County. -
Image
Top 10 Junior Individuals at the 2026 Missouri 4-H State Livestock Judging Contest in Columbia.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension hosted the 2026 Missouri 4-H State Livestock Judging Contest on Saturday, June 6, at the Trowbridge Livestock Center in Columbia. The event brought 92 youths from across the state to demonstrate their skills in evaluating livestock.
Participants evaluated eight classes of livestock – including cattle, swine, sheep, and meat goats – and presented two to three sets of oral reasons to justify their placings, said Kelsey Fuller, University of Missouri Extension state 4-H agriculture educator.
These contests challenge youths to sharpen their observation, decision-making, and communication skills while gaining a deeper understanding of their livestock evaluation, Fuller said.
Participants competed in two age divisions, junior (8-13) and senior (14-18), with the top 10 competitors ages 8-10 also recognized.
Top competitors, ages 8-10
- Noelle Cochran, Jasper County
- Maddox Rodgers, Clinton County
- Janette Byerly, Greene County
- RJ Weddle, Lafayette County
- Carson Smith, Clinton County
- Anna Hulse, Marion County
- Jacey Mackeprang, Clinton County
- Kara Meier, Cape Girardeau County
- Logan Lovercamp, Lafayette County
- Abigail Cochran, Jasper County
Top junior competitors and teams
Individual competitors
- Sullivan Holder, Daviess County
- Aubree Sloan, Clinton County
- Chisum Bedwell, Clinton County
- Wyatt Short, Clinton County
- Noelle Cochran, Jasper County
- Karley Smiley, Morgan County
- Maddox Rodgers, Clinton County
- Oakley Schoen, Clinton County
- Duke Swindler, Clinton County
- Janette Byerly, Greene County
Teams
- Clinton County Green
- Daviess County
- Clinton County Blue
- Jasper County
- Clinton County Gold
Top senior individuals and teams
Individual competitors
- Cealy Bedwell, Clinton County
- Maggie Reed, Pettis County
- Dylan Swindler, Clinton County
- Cass Kleeman, Clinton County
- Rance Greiman, Marion County
- Carson Hill, Randolph County
- Bella Baker, Randolph County
- Charles Goodnight, Greene County
- Stetson Stone, Randolph County
- Brody Swindler, Carroll County
Teams
- Clinton County
- Randolph County
- Pettis County
- Marion County
- Carroll County
Awards were also given to top individuals and teams on specific species and reasons.
Beef cattle
Top 5 Junior Individuals
RJ Weddle, Lafayette County; Aubree Sloan, Clinton County; Oakley Schoen, Clinton County; Duke Swindler, Clinton County; and Sullivan Holder, Daviess County.
Top 3 Junior Teams
Clinton County Green, Jasper County, and Clinton County Gold.
Top 5 Senior Individuals
Maggie Reed, Pettis County; Cass Kleeman, Clinton County; Cealy Bedwell, Clinton County; Bella Baker, Randolph County; and Ava Asmus, Scott County.
Top 3 Senior Teams
Clinton County, Pettis County and Randolph County.
Swine
Top 5 Junior Individuals
Janette Byerly, Greene County; Liam Heldenbrand, Daviess County; Aubree Sloan, Clinton County; Logan Lovercamp, Lafayette County; and Maddox Rodgers, Clinton County.
Top 3 Junior Teams
Daviess County, Clinton County Green and Lafayette County.
Top 5 Senior Individuals
Cealy Bedwell, Clinton County; Maggie Reed, Pettis County; Charles Goodnight, Greene County; Michaela Miller, Carroll County; and Reagan Rodgers, Clinton County.
Top 3 Senior Teams
Clinton County, Pettis County and Carroll County.
Sheep/goats
Top 5 Junior Individuals
Chisum Bedwell, Clinton County; Karley Smiley, Morgan County; Noelle Cochran, Jasper County; Sullivan Holder, Daviess County; and Madelyn Meier, Cape Girardeau County.
Top 3 Junior Teams
Clinton County Green, Daviess County and Clinton County Gold.
Top 5 Senior Individuals
Carson Hill, Randolph County; Dylan Swindler, Clinton County; Rance Greiman, Marion County; Stetson Stone, Randolph County; and Chase Burbank, Linn County.
Top 3 Senior Teams
Randolph County, Clinton County and Pettis County.
Reasons
Top 5 Junior Individuals
Aubree Sloan, Clinton County; Emmett Jeffries, Livingston County; Oakley Schoen, Clinton County; Janette Byerly, Greene County; and Frank Miller, Carroll County.
Top 3 Junior Teams
Clinton County Green, Daviess County and Clinton County Blue.
Top 5 Senior Individuals
Maggie Reed, Pettis County; Cealy Bedwell, Clinton County; Elyse Cooley, Pettis County; Reagan Rodgers, Clinton County; and Charles Goodnight, Greene County.
Top 3 Senior Teams
Clinton County, Pettis County and Randolph County.
Programs offered by Missouri 4-H would not be possible without support from our partners. Major support for Missouri 4-H agriculture programs was provided by the Missouri 4-H Foundation in partnership with FCS Financial, MFA Foundation, Midwest Dairy Association, Missouri Association of Meat Processors, Missouri Farm Bureau Federation, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, the Oertle Family Foundation, Eunice Campbell, and the Hertzog Family.
Special awards fundraiser supported by Team Sloan Livestock, Dotson Hampshires, Don and Jamie Honeycutt, Ward Brothers Livestock, Cameron Coop, Diamond J Livestock, Sen. Rusty and Karie Black, Cattle Visions, Croy Polan Chinas, Mid-Missouri Energy, Cooley Farms, Kevin and Pam Critten, Reed Farms, Graves Cattle Co., Curtis Show Pigs, Ray-Carroll County Grain Growers, Eugene and Vickie Hinnah, Carl Steen, Sloan Sisters Show Stock, Show-Me Genetic Services, Century 21 Farm and Home, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, American Family Insurance, Mervyn W Jenkins Foundation, and Rafter 7 Ranch LLC.
Photos
Top 10 Junior Individuals at the 2026 Missouri 4-H State Livestock Judging Contest in Columbia.
Champion Senior Team – Clinton County.
Senior All-Star Team, from left: Josie Baker, Charles Goodnight, and Rance Greiman. Not pictured: Brody Swindler.
