Youth compete for top awards in American Royal 4-H Livestock Judging Contest

KANSAS CITY — On Oct. 31, 14 teams vied for champion honors in the American Royal 4-H Livestock Judging Contest held in Hale Arena. The winning team was from Illinois. Team members included Adrian Austin, Andrew Livingston, Dylan Sigrist and Rhiannon Branch.
The contest is open to one team per state consisting of four members per team. The three highest-placing contestants contribute to the overall team score. Contestants judged 10 classes of livestock containing four animals each. Classes included both breeding and market animals in beef, sheep/goat, and swine divisions. In addition, contestants appeared before officials to present six sets of oral reasons.
Overall team placings are as follows:
1. Illinois (2,225 points)
Adrian Austin, Andrew Livingston, Dylan Sigrist and Rhiannon Branch
2. Texas (2,222 points)
Cody Mayfield, Corey Flach, Courtney Flach and Scott Mangold
3. Colorado (2,185 points)
Michael Semler, Sadie Yates, Ashley Little and Skkye Moreno
4. Indiana (2,156 points)
Carly Jo Wechter, Luke Wechter and Kaelyn Bender
5. Ohio (2,145 points)
Brock Wilt, Caroline Hughes, Gus Mitchem and Caleb Penwell
6. Virginia (2,135 points)
Blake Hopkins, Hunter Watkins and Robert Nixon
7. Minnesota (2,134 points)
Tony Munsterteiger, Zach Heikes, Gabi Zeman and Anna Munsterteiger
8. Oklahoma (2,117 points)
Dakota Nusser, Terrill Burton, Cathy Mapes and Tyler Burton
9. South Dakota (2,109 points)
Sterling Kappes, Carly Wheeting, Maryn Howard and Adrianne Schaunama
10. Kansas (2,091 points)
Hayden Cole, Caitlin Dreher, Colton Heffern and Trent Johnson

Overall Top 10 individuals are as follows:

1. Adrian Austin, Mt. Vernon, Illinois (765 points)
2. Cody Mayfield, Pipe Creek, Texas (760 points)
3. Ashley Little, Durango, Colorado (747 points)
4. Luke Wechter, Ligonier, Indiana (744 points)
5. Dylan Sigrist, Farina, Illinois (739 points)
6. Corey Flach, Pipe Creek, Texas (734 points)
7. Bailey Samper, Raymond, California (733 points)
8. Courtney Flach, Pipe Creek, Texas (728 points)
9. Tony Munsterteiger, Ogilvie, Minnesota (728 points)
10. Jess Oldham, Lander, Wyoming (727 points)

Sheep Division results:

Teams:
1. Texas (694 points)
2. Illinois (684 points)
3. Indiana (682 points)
4. Colorado (677 points)
5. Kansas (666 points)

Individuals:
1. Adrian Austin, Mt. Vernon, Illinois (242 points)
2. Luke Wechter, Ligonier, Indiana (242 points)
3. Bailey Samper, Raymond, California (236 points)
4. Cody Mayfield, Pipe Creek, Texas (234 points)
5. Caitlin Dreher, Iola, Kansas (233 points)

Swine Division results:

Teams:
1. Illinois (706 points)
2. Ohio (696 points)
3. Texas (694 points)
4. Colorado (682 points)
5. Indiana (681 points)

Individuals:
1. Kaelyn Bender, Albion, Indiana (240 points)
2. Cody Mayfield, Pipe Creek, Texas (239 points)
3. Adrian Austin, Mt. Vernon, Illinois (238 points)
4. Marie Swims, Ranger, Georgia (238 points)
5. Rhiannon Branch, Iuka, Illinois (237 points)

Beef Division results:

Teams:
1. Illinois (835 points)
2. Texas (834 points)
3. Colorado (826 points)
4. Minnesota (805 points)
5. Oklahoma (804 points)

Individuals:
1. Cody Mayfield, Pipe Creek, Texas (287 points)
2. Adrian Austin, Mt. Vernon, Illinois (285 points)
3. Ashley Little, Durango, Colorado (284 points)
4. Skkye Moreno, Durango, Colorado (281 points)
5. Dylan Sigrist, Farina, Illinois (278 points)

Oral Reasons Division results:

Teams:
1. Illinois (831 points)
2. Texas (821 points)
3. Colorado (810 points)
4. Indiana (794 points)
5. Kansas (770 points)

Individuals
1. Adrian Austin, Mt. Vernon, Illinois (286 points)
2. Dylan Sigrist, Farina, Illinois (280 points)
3. Bailey Samper, Raymond, California (277 points)
4. Luke Wechter, Ligonier, Indiana (276 points)
5. Ashley Little, Durango, Colorado (275 points)

The American Royal Association is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that has been a Kansas City tradition since 1899. Each year more than 270,000 people attend events at the American Royal Complex. In 2012, the Royal was able to give $1.4 million in scholarship and educational awards. In addition to its educational mission, the American Royal generates some $60 million of economic impact, $4.4 million in local tax revenues, and supports 450 jobs. For more information about the American Royal livestock shows, contact Karrie Manley at 816-569-4054 or karriem@americanroyal.com.