2026 Contest
Date: June 6, 2026
Location: Trowbridge Livestock Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO - map to Trowbridge
Registration
This contest is open to all 4-H’ers. Registration is $25 per youth – no fee for coaches. Youth and coaches should register between April 14 and May 26, 2026. No registrations will be accepted after May 26, 2026.
Schedule
- 8:00 – Check in
- 8:45 - Welcome
- 9:00 – Contest begins
- 12:00 – Reasons begin
- Juniors – 2 sets
- Seniors - 3 sets
- Following reasons – Awards and contest critique
Evaluation of livestock is an exciting and thought-provoking experience. The goal of livestock judging is to compare your perception of an animal against the ideal and then to contrast your opinion with that of another individual or group of individuals. The basic level of livestock judging consists of three primary components: 1) the placing of animals; 2) questions diving deeper into the classes; and 3) orally justifying your decision (reasons). These activities expose you to more than just livestock judging, in addition to that you learn teamwork, effective communication skills, analytical thinking and aides you in gaining confidence to defend your decisions.
State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest Information and Rules (PDF)