Dairy Judging
The primary purpose of 4-H is to create an environment of positive youth development and hands-on learning opportunities to help them grow into competent, caring, and contributing members of society. Participating in dairy cattle judging provides an excellent opportunity for youth to increase their knowledge of evaluating dairy cattle across the breeds but also develops life skills in communication, decision making, and reasoning.
Dairy Judging contests teach youth to critically evaluate dairy animals based on breed standards and gain an understanding of how form affects function. Youth participating in these competitions learn anatomy and physiology of the dairy animal and gain capability in choosing the proper animal to take in the show ring or keep for breeding on farm. They also learn confidence and public speaking skills while defending the reasoning for their placements to the judges. Youth can find local opportunities and judging clinics by contacting their country 4-H educators.
NYS 4-H Dairy Judging Rules and Regulations
New York State 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Rules and Regulations
The primary purpose of 4-H is to create an environment of positive youth development and hands-on learning opportunities to help them grow into competent, caring, and contributing members of society. Participating in dairy cattle judging provides an excellent opportunity for youth to increase their knowledge of evaluating dairy cattle across the breeds but also develops life skills in communication, decision making, and reasoning.
- All participants must be in good standing and a bon-a-fide 4-H member in their county of participation.
- All contestants will be considered as "individuals" (they do not have to belong to a "team" to participate).
- For these contests, a "team" is defined as a group of either three or four individuals whose contest scores will be considered as a "team score." Prior to the state contest, these team members may have worked together in a cooperative effort, but not necessarily. If there are 3 or 4 individuals from a county on the same level, they must compete as a team also.
- Each county can have a maximum of 8 contestants for each level; Beginner, Junior and Senior, for 4-H Day 1 of Dairy Judging at the New York State Fair.
- The members of a particular "team" should all be from the same county unless there is a multi-county program agreement. If a county does not have enough team members to fill 2 full teams (up to 8 participants per level), counties in the same 4-H Dairy Educational District may combine contestants to make a full team or additional team as-long-as the maximum number of participants has not exceeded 8 for each level.
- If a county has more than 4 individuals but less than 8 and there is not an opportunity to add members from another county within the 4-H Dairy Educational District to form a team, those youth may participate in the contest as individual participants. Members of the team and those competing as individuals must be identified at registration. Individual participants are not eligible for team awards, but will compete for individual placings.
- The New York State 4-H Membership year runs from October 1 to September 30. Persons with an intellectual disability may participate fully in 4-H programs as long as their developmental age is considered to fall between 8 and 19 years of age. Age – All contestants must be 8 by January 1 of the current calendar year and not have reached their 19th birthday by or on January 1 of the current year. To be eligible for selection as a member of a state team, contestants must have been at least 14 years of age by January 1 of the current year.
- Entry will be in Beginner, Junior or Senior levels or divisions. Beginner division includes youth age 8 to 10 years as of January 1, Junior team members must be at least 9 and less than 14 years old as of January 1 of the current year. Senior members must be at least 14 years old as of January 1 of the current year and not reached their 19th birthday prior to or on January 1 of the current year.
- Contestants are expected to provide their own pencils/pens when needed for a contest.
- The use of cell phones by contestants will not be permitted during any of the dairy youth educational contests.
- At the State 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest on Day 1 senior level participants will give two sets of oral reasons to judges. If contestant elects not to give reasons, they must notify the contest officials and accept a score of zero.
- The top 25 or 25% of seniors will be invited back for 2nd day of 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging during colored-breed week at State Fair. Only senior team members participating in both Day 1 and Day 2 are eligible for State 4-H Team Selection. Only Senior team members are eligible for State team selection. Those who have participated in the Harrisburg Contest are still eligible for the Madison or Louisville Team, but not eligible to go to Harrisburg again (same for Louisville.) Madison team participation is final state team eligibility.
- There will be a pre-registration forms emailed to counties for sign-up. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged for the contest being held at the State Fair but, with exception, registration prior to the start of the event will take place in the dairy cattle showring on contest day at designated times.
- In compliance with national judging contest rules, any college students enrolled in a post-secondary dairy judging course is not eligible for 4-H dairy judging contest.
- No contestant may participate who as of the date of the State Contest will have participated in any official post-secondary competitive event of a similar nature in the same subject area (species) nor may the contestant have been in training for post-secondary competition.
- All scoring will be based on the 3-15 cut system with 50 points maximum for each class.
- A zero (no score) will be given when:
- No card is turned in for a class
- A card is turned in with no placing
- A card is turned in with no contestant identification
- A card is turned in late
- A zero (no score) will be given when:
- All reasons scoring for senior level participants will 50 points maximum for designated classes.
- In cases where the placing of a contestant is not clear or there is a duplication of a number, the lowest possible score using the information presented will be used.
- Calculating team scores will include the top 3 individual scores of the team members.
- All ties will be broken by the contest coordinator using prescribed procedures. Whenever there are tie scores, the advantage will be given to the contestant or team with the highest reason scores
- Because of scheduling at the Pennsylvania All-American, youth cannot compete in both the Junior Management Contest and the Dairy Judging Contest in Harrisburg in the same contest year.
- Award ribbons to each member of the top 5 teams (Day 1), ribbons to show rank of team. Ribbon to each of the top 10 individuals (Day 1), ribbons to show rank.
- Day 1 and Day 2 scores from the New York State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest will be combined to determine top individuals. Award ribbons for top 10 individuals and state team designation determined on Day 2 of New York State Dairy Cattle Judging Contest.
- Contestants will not be allowed to take books, notes or writing paper into the contest except cards as provided by the contest coordinators. Senior level participants should provide their own paper for taking notes for reasons classes. Cell phones and other portable electronic devices are not allowed.
- While the contest is in progress there shall be no communication among the contestants or between a contestant and anyone else, except as directed by the superintendent or his/her representative.
- Counties will be billed $150 per youth with membership in specified county who represents New York State as a team member at Invitational and National 4-H Dairy Judging contest.
Judging Resources
These are just a few suggested resources for studying the form and function of dairy cattle and preparing for judging contests. A hands-on approach is the best way to learn! Contact your local or county 4-H educator to find out about on-farm clinics or workshops.
State and National Contests
The New York state Dairy Judging team is chosen each year through a competition at the State Fair. Youth earning spots have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to and compete in national competitions representing the state of New York.
For more information:
Contact Debbie Grusenmeyer at djc27 [at] cornell.edu (djc27[at]cornell[dot]edu).