Rafter 3C Arena Hosts 2025 4-H and FFA Horse and Livestock Judging Contest

Churchill County 4-H Positive Youth Coordinator Karen Bogdanowicz, Ben Matley, Fernley FFA livestock and horse judging coach, Heather Hancock, Fallon 4-H livestock judging leader, Jackie Bogdanowicz, Oasis FFA advisor, and Rebecca Glocknitzer, 4-H livestock specialist, hosted the 2025 4-H Horse and Livestock Judging Contest at the Rafter 3C Arena on Jan. 10-11.

Lee Stock Horses, Flint and Bea Lee, Barbara Hodges, and Marissa and Patty Julian provided horses for the contestants to judge in all reining and halter classes on Friday, Jan. 10. The officials and reasons judges for the horse contest were Clay and Emily Damuth of Carson Valley, Carol Dotson of Fallon, and Tara Sallee of Washoe Valley. Photo: Judging Instructions to all the members present.

Following the horse judging, a livestock judging clinic gave contestants the opportunity to practice evaluating and placing animals on a judge’s scorecard. Hannah Montalvo, a Churchill County FFA member, brought her show steers, while goats were provided by Debra Hoffmann, sheep by HH Livestock’s Heather Hancock, replacement heifers by Spear S Cattle Company, and pigs by the Barbee and Lewis families.

On Saturday, contestants judged beef, sheep, goats, and hogs. After evaluating the animals, they scored them on a judge’s card and presented oral reasons to a panel of judges. The officials and reasons judges for the livestock contest included members of Lassen College’s livestock judging team—Taylor Lauritsen, Spencer Blackorby, Blaine Wolf, Joseph Richard, Hayle Hancock, and Sydney Botts—along with Fernley FFA advisor Jacki Bodanowicz, Oasis FFA advisor Angel Artega, and Fallon’s Ben Matley.

The primary goals of the Churchill County 4-H and FFA Livestock Judging Contest are to help participants recognize and interpret visual differences between livestock animals. These skills are valuable for youth to learn, comprehend, and apply. Judging contests also build confidence and increase knowledge of livestock. Contestants must defend their placings with memorized oral reasons, which helps develop public speaking and debate skills. Many successful contestants go on to earn scholarships and compete at the collegiate level.

There were four levels of reasons judged: novice, junior, intermediate, and senior. The High Point Reasons Junior was Emma Elmore of Fallon, High Point Reasons Intermediate Macady Bogdanowicz of Fallon and the High Point Reasons Senior was Ila Richardon of Eagle Point, Oregon. 

Sponsors who supported the event included Troy and Nicole Adams, Jon and Rene Hancock, Heather Hancock, Snyder’s Pinenut Livestock Supply, the Nevada Reined Cow and Cutting Horse Association, and Gail Kolbe of Carson Valley.

Teams from Winnemucca, Lovelock, Elko, Lyon County, and Eagle Point, Oregon, competed in the two-day contest.