4-H students thrive during Achievement Days!

    The 2016 Jones and Mellette 4-H Achievement Days kicked off on Wednesday, August 3 with the small animal and livestock shows. Festivities kicked off with the small animal show held at the Jones County Sportsman’s Club. Judge Jessica Magelky evaluated Madelyn Host’s healthy rabbit entry and gave Madelyn tips and tricks on being a better rabbit showman. Madelyn also showed her cat in the cat show and participated in cat showmanship. She received purple ribbons on both her cat and her rabbit and blue ribbons for both showmanship classes.   
    After moving down to the Murdo Rodeo Arena, the livestock show was hot both in temperature and thanks to great competition. The afternoon kicked off with our beef showmen displaying their skills exhibiting their animals. Senior competitors Olathe Schmidt and Trayer Schmidt of White River both received purple ribbons with Olathe earning top senior showman honors.      The junior class featured five 4-H members who each did a fantastic job. Chase Barnes of Murdo took the champion junior showman title with purple ribbons being awarded to Wyatt Olson and Tanner Willert while Ty Fuoss and Dylan Fuoss both received blue ribbons. The beginner beef showmanship showcased Emmy Newsam, Rhone Schmidt and Hazin Schmidt. Our youngest 4-H members did a great job with Emmy Newsam shining and winning the champion title in the beginner division. Rhone and Hazin both walked away with blue ribbons for a job well done.  
    The cattle show continued with feeder steers, market steers and a large class of bull calves. The replacement heifer calf class featured seven entries.  Top purple was awarded to Tanner Willert with his angus spring heifer. Purple ribbons were presented to Emmy Newsam, Wyatt Olson and Olathe Schmidt. Blue ribbons were given to Dylan Fuoss, Trayer Schmidt and Hazin Schmidt. The yearling heifer class highlighted seven high quality bred females. The top purple heifer was owned by Chase Barnes. Other purple ribbons were awarded to Tanner Willert, Ty Fuoss and Dylan Fuoss with blue ribbons going to Chase Barnes, Trayer Schmidt and Olathe Schmidt.  
    The culmination of the cattle show came with the cow/calf futurity class. Exhibitors in this class take on a three year commitment showing the same animal as a heifer calf, yearling and then as a cow/calf pair. At the end of the three years, Roghair Trucking presents the top point earner a leather show halter. The award was presented at the Lions and Murdo Chamber barbecue on August 9. Chase Barnes was selected as the top purple pair with purple ribbons given to Dylan Fuoss, Olathe Schmidt and Trayer Schmidt.  
    The remainder of the evening featured a meat goat show, dairy cattle show and a sheep show. The meat goat show featured Wyatt Olson earning a blue ribbon for showmanship and his wether. Dylan Fuoss brought his aged jersey cow for the show and received a blue ribbon for her and a blue ribbon for his showmanship ability. The sheep show kicked off with Seth Schoon and Adrik Schoon impressing the judge with their showmanship ability. Seth received the champion junior sheep showmanship title while Adrik won the beginner title. Seth then showed his yearling targhee ewe that received a purple. Adrik and Seth both showed a targhee ewe lamb with Adrik taking the top purple and Seth receiving a purple. The final class in the sheep show was the targhee ram lamb class with Adrik Schoon earning a purple ribbon.  
 The round robbin contest challenged our 4-H members by having them each show a horse, beef cattle and a sheep.  Points were awarded by the judges and the champion beginner/junior showman was named at the barbecue on August 9.  
  The day concluded with the pen of three   contest. 4-H      members collaborated to have a pen of bull calves, heifer calves and yearling heifers.  Thanks to the generous sponsorship of the banks in town the winners of the pen of three will be engraved on plaques that hang inside the banks. The winners were announced at the barbecue.  
    A great day of livestock, wonderful kids and lots of fun! We appreciate our judge, Jessica Magelky, and volunteers that made the day a success.