The Wisconsin 4-H Livestock Judging Contest was held July 24 at the Lodi Agricultural Fairgrounds in Lodi. This annual venue allows the top junior and senior county 4-H livestock judging teams the opportunity to apply their skills in evaluating beef, swine, sheep and meat goat classes in hopes of qualifying for a national livestock judging event this fall. 

Ten senior teams and 10 junior teams participated in the contest, which consisted of evaluating classes of market and breeding beef, swine and sheep. Judges also answered questions and delivered sets of oral reasons. These teams qualified for the state contest by being top teams at the district Area Animal Science Days that were held around the state in June. 

The top two teams in the senior division will go on to represent Wisconsin at a national judging contest this fall. A team from Manitowoc County took top honors in the senior division. Team members include Vanessa Roberts, Ambrose Wiering and Megan Greif. The team is coached by Rob Ash. The second-place senior team was Juneau County. Team members include Daniel Walsh, Clayton Walsh, Dawson Firlus and Dawson Miller. They are coached by Lisa Walsh.

The third-place team was Waukesha County. Team members include  Hannah Tremaine, Mason Roscizewski and Ceara Cull. They are coached by Karen Tremaine. The fourth-place team was Marathon County. Team members are Kailen Smerchek, Mallory Schmoll, Stephanie Witberler and Hunter Falkowski. The Marathon County team is coached by Dan Smerchek. The fifth-place team was Iowa County. Team members include Brandon Springer, Morgan Vondra, Blaine Springer and Martina Steffes. The team is coached by Jeff Thomas.

The top 10 senior individual judges are:

1. Vanessa Roberts, Manitowoc County
2. Daniel Walsh, Juneau County
3. Hannah Tremaine, Waukesha County
4. Dillin Meier, Grant County
5. Mason Roscizewski, Waukesha County
6. Clayton Walsh, Juneau County
7. Kailen Smerchek, Marathon County
8. Caden Nicolaus, Sheboygan County
9. Brandon Springer, Iowa County
10. Ambrose Wiering, Manitowoc County

The top reasons team was Manitowoc County. The top five reasons individuals were Vanessa Roberts, Manitowoc; Daniel Walsh, Juneau; Kailen Smerchek, Marathon; Hannah Tremaine, Waukesha; and Mason Roscizewski, Waukesha.

The top beef team was Juneau County; the top sheep team was Marathon County, and the top swine team was Juneau County. 

The top junior team was from Grant County. Team members are Gavin Esser, Jessica Patterson, Brendan Jentz and Avery Crooks. They are coached by Dennis Patterson. The second-place junior team was Iowa County. Team members include Emma Steffes, Cameron Patterson, Ellie Robinson and Luke Schubert. They are coached by Jeff Thomas. The third-place team was Columbia County. Team members are Samantha Rake, Hayden Taylor, Macy Cross and Summer Rake. The team is coached by Todd Taylor.  The fourth-place team was the No. 2 team from Iowa County. Team members are Joey Robinson, Annie Robinson, Skylar Garthwaite and Kaycee Lindner. The team is coached by Jeff Thomas. The fifth-place team was from Sheboygan County. Team members are Cora Kohlman, Brayden Peter, Elizabeth Wimmler and Alisha Klemme. The team is coached by Chad Kohlman.

The top 10 junior individual judges were:

1. Gavin Esser, Grant County
2. Emma Steffes, Iowa County
3. Joey Robinson, Iowa County
4. Samantha Rake, Columbia County
5. Jessica Patterson, Grant County
6. Cora Capatske, Pierce County
7. Brendan Jentz, Grant County
8. Cameron Patterson, Iowa County
9. Cora Kohlman, Sheboygan County
10. Ty Sheets, Manitowoc County.

The top beef, swine and sheep teams were all Grant County. Top reasons individual for juniors was Samantha Rake, Columbia County. The top reasons team for the junior division was Grant County.