For the Telegram
GOSHEN COUNTY – The local 4-H meats judging team, comprised of members Kendall Haas, Anna Schmick, Kaci Schmick and Dally Wilkins earned third-place honors in national competition during the American Royal this month in Kansas City, Mo.
The Goshen County 4-H’ers competed against 11 states in retail cut identification, meat judging and oral reasoning. In retail cut identification, contestants identified 30 cuts of meat and were expected to know the species, primal cut, name of retail cut and cooking method. In the judging division, contestants evaluated, compared and placed beef carcass, beef ribs, pork carcass, pork fresh hams, T-bones/Porterhouses and pork rib chops classes.
Contestants then defended their placement of the beef, pork and retail classes. Known as providing oral reasons, youth needed to organize their thoughts and speak publicly in a structured environment.
Individual scores from all classes and reasons are totaled to determine team scores. Participants are eligible for individual recognition as well as team awards.
In Beef Classes, Kaci Schmick led the team, placing sixth overall, earning 142 points.
The team shined in Pork Judging, earning first place overall. Haas earned high individual, Anna Schmick earned fifth and Kaci Schmick earned eighth.
Overall, the team earned 425 points.
Anna Schmick led the nation in the Retail Cut Judging and earned 146 points for her team. Kaci Schmick earned 145 points, earning her second place, while Haas earned fifth place with 143 points. With a total score of 434 points, Wyoming won the Retail Cut Judging portion of the contest.
In Retail Cut Identification, Kaci Schmick led the team, placing fifth overall and a score of 295. Kendall Haas earned eighth place and 291 points out of a possible 300, helping earn the team third place in the division.
Haas led the team in oral reasons, earning third place and a score of 133. Kaci Schmick placed fifth and Anna Schmick brought home eighth place. Dally Wilkins earned 18th place out of 45 contestants. The Wyoming team placed second in the Oral Reasons division.
Individual scores are totaled to create the team score. Wyoming 4-H’ers placed third in the nation with 2,130 points, finishing behind Texas and Minnesota.
The team is coached by 4-H volunteers Michael and Mai Lee Olsen.
