A record number of competitors headed to the 2023 4-H Illinois Superior Young Livestock Producers Contest.  The event was held on August 9th in conjunction with the State Fair. 58 4-H members from across the state competed in a three-phase competition challenging the youth’s knowledge of livestock production covering beef, swine, and sheep. 

Dan Jennings, U of I Extension Educator, 4-H Livestock says that the contest provides youth an opportunity to showcase their knowledge of the industry while competing for valuable scholarships to help them pursue their career goals. $1,000 scholarships are presented each year to the nine highest-scoring individuals overall.  The top nine 4-H youth receiving $1,000 scholarships this year include Ben Wamsley, Audrey Curtin, Isabel Pistorius, and Jay Bliler all from Christian County. 

In the Livestock Marketing competition, Ben Wamsley and Audrey Curtin received plaques and took home the highest honors.  This year marked the 27th consecutive year for the Superior Young Livestock Producers Contest, which has provided participating youth the opportunity to compete for over $500,000 in college scholarships since its inception.  The purpose of the contest is to create an educational activity that promotes youth development, career development, and personal growth through increased knowledge of the livestock industry.