County 4-H takes wins at conference

link Staff Photo: Aubry Buzek

Curry County 4-H members brought home two team wins in the Livestock Skillathon and the Meats Identification contest from the State 4-H Conference held last week in Las Cruces. Pictured from left: Chance Mitchell, Garrett Rutherford, Trey Runyan, Tucker Northcutt, Morgan Wade, and Koby Valentine. Not pictured: Madison Belcher.

Curry County 4-H members made a goal to win at the state 4-H conference this year, and they did not leave disappointed.

The meats identification team and the livestock skillathon team brought home two first place finishes after competing July 13-16 at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces.

“They are beyond excited,” said County Extension 4-H Agent Janelle Duffey.

The state winners will now move on to national competitions held across the U.S. this fall.

The meats identification team is made up of Chance Mitchell, Koby Valentine, Garrett Rutherford and Madison Belcher.

The livestock skillathon team is made up of Mitchell, Rutherford, Belcher, and Trey Runyan.

The state teams include senior-age 4-H members who earned their spot through an individual placing at the county contest.

Nine 4-H members made the trip to compete in five team contests, and in addition to the two winning teams the members earned several top three team awards and individual prizes.

The 4-H members came back with two third-place team finishes, including the agronomy team made up of Morgan Wade, Ethan Baldock, and Tucker Northcutt; and the livestock judging contest team made up of Mitchell, Valentine, Rutherford, and Runyan.

Mitchell was the high point individual in the meats identification contest, Valentine was third, and Rutherford was fifth.

The meats identification team will represent the state at the National 4-H Meats Evaluation Contest Oct. 20-21 at the American Royal Livestock Show in Kansas City, Missouri.

Rutherford was the high point individual in the livestock skillathon contest, and Mitchell was fourth.

The livestock skillathon team will represent the state at the National 4-H Livestock skillathon contest November in Louisville, Kentucky.

Rutherford was also the high point individual in the prepared public speaking contest, and will represent the state at the Western National Roundup January 7-10 in Denver, Colorado.

To help defray the cost of their travel to the national competitions, the team is looking for donations and fundraising by selling Colorado peaches and pears.

“(It) is some of the best around,” Duffey said. “The fruit is less than three days off the tree when it gets here so it's so much better than that in the stores.”

Duffey said the fruit can be ordered at the Curry County Extension Office or from any Curry County 4-H member.