Livestock Showmanship Event To Connect Youth With State Leaders

North Dakota 4-H’ers will share their livestock showmanship knowledge with state leaders as part of the North Dakota Public Leaders 4-H Showmanship Event at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 28, at the North Dakota State Fair All Season Arena in Minot.

The 24 4-H’ers who win champion or reserve champion at the intermediate and senior level in showmanship for six livestock species at the North Dakota State Fair earlier in the week will be paired with a North Dakota leader for the Public Leaders 4-H Showmanship Event. The youth will give their leader tips on how to show a specific species of livestock.

After the 4-H’ers share their knowledge on showing their animal, the leaders will compete in a livestock showmanship contest. Judges will be the youth who coached the leaders in the respective age divisions.

“This event achieves many things: showcases our great 4-H youth, their communication and showmanship skills, connects youth with adults in leadership roles across the state, and provides 4-H’ers the opportunity to teach someone else what they have learned in the 4-H program,” says Lynette Flage, North Dakota State University Extension associate director.

Leigh Ann Skurupey, North Dakota Center for 4-H Youth Development assistant director adds, “Youth get to practice their teaching skills, and as a result, engage and lead conversations about stockmanship expertise to someone unfamiliar, potentially nervous, with little time to learn something new. Time management skills become an elevated skill too!”

“The North Dakota Public Leaders 4-H Showmanship Event will provide several exciting opportunities,” Skurupey says.

Here are a few of them:

• Cultivate an opportunity where youth engage in public speaking, communication and leadership skills with the state’s public leaders. This is an excellent setting for senior and intermediate round robin champions and reserve champions to gain workforce development skills. These youth teach the public leader they are paired with how to show their champion animal, which creates the perfect platform for working on communication and confidence.
• Provide an opportunity to network with public leaders; some of these youth may not find this kind of opportunity anywhere else
• Provide a way for public leaders to invest in and engage with North Dakota 4-H’ers firsthand in a hands-on, learn-by-doing atmosphere
• Offer an opportunity to bring youth, families, public leaders and the community to a fun and exciting event at the North Dakota State Fair

“It’s a way to connect our leaders today with our leaders of tomorrow,” says Kurt Froelich, NDSU Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Stark and Billings counties.

Leaders who have been invited to participate include Lt. Governor Tammy Miller and North Dakota State Veterinarian Dr. Ethan Andress, along with area legislators and other state leaders.