North Dakota Leaders Experience 4-H Livestock Showmanship

Showing livestock with 4-H youth as judges at the North Dakota State Fair

PUBLISHED ON August 5, 2024

FARGO, N.D. — On July 27, several state leaders experienced the world of 4-H livestock showmanship as they tried their hand at showing livestock with 4-H youth as judges at the North Dakota State Fair in Minot.

Prior to the North Dakota Public Leaders 4-H Showmanship Event, a leader was paired with a selected 4-H member who exhibited one of the six livestock species at the North Dakota State Fair. The youth provided their leader instruction and advice on how to show a specific species of livestock and then served as the judges for the leaders’ efforts.

“This 4-H event connects today’s leaders with tomorrow’s leaders,” said Kurt Froelich, NDSU Extension agent from Stark-Billings County. “Thank you to our participants and supporters of this event for making this experience possible for the 4-Hers.”

“Our goal for 4-H is to help youth achieve the best in themselves,” said Leigh Ann Skurupey, North Dakota Center for 4-H Youth Development assistant director. “4-H helps youth to develop essential life skills, gain knowledge and build confidence to thrive, lead and change the world. This event is a good example of how 4-H provides opportunities for our youth to thrive.”

“I had the best time learning from my coach Tessa Sigvaldson,” said Chloe Drummond, 4-H Foundation board coordinator and relationship specialist. “Learning that Tessa balances school, work, clubs, her livestock projects and her own business is a great example of how 4-H prepares youth for work and life. I loved seeing 4-H in action!”

The state leaders who took first place in the event were:

• Beef Cattle – John Fjeldahl, Ward County Commissioner, Minot, coached by Bennett Johnson, Mercer County
• Dairy Cattle – Sarah Lovas, Chair, State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, Hillsboro, coached by Brekka Kuss, Stutsman County
• Dairy Goats – Kandi Mikkelson, North Dakota State Fair Board Member, Minot, coached by Devyn Fougner, Griggs County
• Meat Goats – Beth Richardson, Canadian Consul General, Minneapolis, Minnesota, coached by Lilli Steeke, Bowman County
• Sheep – Lynette Flage, NDSU Extension associate director, Fargo, coached by Gustin Ueckert, Golden Valley County
• Swine – Senator Keith Boehm, District 33, Mandan, coached by Cooper Strommen, Morton County

Other state leaders participating and their 4-H coaches were:

• Drew Combs, North Dakota Trade Office executive director, Bismarck, coached by Elizabeth Hanson, Ward County
• S. Congressman Kelly Armstrong, Dickinson, coached by Sydnee Johnson, Mercer County
• Representative Karen Rohr, District 31, Mandan, coached by Jarett Sanders, Oliver County
• Commissioner Sheri Haugen-Hoffart, Public Service Commission, Bismarck, coached by Jacob Sand, Bottineau County
• Mohamed Khan, NDSU Extension assistant director, ANR, Fargo, coached by Marie Sand, Bottineau County
• Woodrow (Chip) Poland, Director of Agriculture and Technical Studies, Dickinson, coached by Eleanor Carlson, McLean County
• Chloe Drummond, 4-H Foundation coordinator, Fargo, coached by Tessa Sigvaldson, Williams County
• Kevin Black, Minot Area Chamber Economic Development Corporation, Minot, coached by Maggie Iverson, Cavalier County
• Representative Paul Thomas, District 6, Velva, coached by Morgan Keen, Ward County
• Senator Kristin Roers, District 27, Fargo, coached by Rudi Wendel, Cass County
• Senator David Hogue, District 38, Minot, coached by Faith Carpenter, Ward County
• Jeff Eslinger, Communications Director, North Dakota Association of Counties, Bismarck, coached by Layla Krinke, Bowman County
• Senator Judy Estenson, District 15, Warwick, coached by Rosie Abraham, Griggs County
• Representative Vicky Steiner, District 37, Dickinson, coached by Tessa Dvorak, Dunn County
• Representative Matthew Ruby, District 40, Minot, coached by Rachel Schmidt, Oliver County
• Twyla Baker, President, Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, New Town, coached by Bailey Hokanson, Williams County
• Greg Lardy, Joe and Norma Peltier Vice President for NDSU Agriculture, Fargo, coached by Haley Mcleod, Ranson County
• Senator Jeff Barta, District 43, Grand Forks, coached by Graesen Helgoe, Pembina County

NDSU Extension, the North Dakota 4-H Foundation and the North Dakota State Fair sponsored the event.

— North Dakota State University Extension