Learning Outcomes
- Acquire a better knowledge of dairy cattle and develop skills in identifying types and grades of livestock while learning the basic principles of animal science.
- Learn to identify breeds and classes of dairy animals to help improve production on the farm and develop skills that contribute to profitable, efficient farming.
- Learn how to make individual decisions and support them with oral statements, which develops skills of decision making, critical thinking, and problem solving.
- Develop leadership abilities, build character, and assume citizenship responsibilities, and develop skills, knowledge, and attitudes for lifelong use.
Eligibility
- Cloverleaf/Juniors: 4th – 8th grade.
- Seniors: 9th – 12th grade.
- Counties cannot mix grade divisions to comprise a team. All members on the Junior team must meet the Junior grade requirements, and all members on the Senior team must meet the Senior grade requirements.
- Counties may bring up to 20 senior team members and 20 non-senior members (Cloverleaf’s and Junior’s). A team must consist of a minimum of three (3) or four (4) participants. Individuals may also participate. A county’s team score will be the sum of the top three scores from that county.
- Eligibility is determined by the grade level during the 2023-2024 school year.
Competition Guidelines
- Study and learn to judge dairy cattle.
- Enter a community and/or county 4-H dairy judging contest.
- There will be one statewide contest. In State competition, 4-H members will be required to:
- The State Dairy Judging Competition will be comprised of five (5) placing classes (Cows and Heifers of Dairy Breeds) for both Junior and Senior participants.
- Junior contestants will give one set of oral reasons and Senior contestants will give three sets of oral reasons.
Awards
- Each participant will receive a judging pin.
- Medals will be given to the top three winning Senior and Junior teams and Senior and junior Overall High Individuals at the state contest.
- The first place senior team will represent Georgia at the National 4-H Dairy Judging Contest in Madison, WI.
- Members of the State Winning (First Place) Senior Team are ineligible to compete as team members in future years. This applies whether or not they compete in the National Dairy Judging Contest.
- Team members may compete as individuals in State 4-H Dairy Judging Contests and may be recognized as State Winners as High Individuals.
- State Winning High Individuals who are not members of the State Winning (First Place) Team are permitted to compete in future years as either individuals or as team members.
The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (working cooperatively with Fort Valley State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the counties of Georgia) offers its educational programs, assistance, and materials to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status and is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action organization.