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Mia Wichmann - Reserve Champion Meat (Rabbit) Pen -
Brady Ford - Reserve Champion Simmental Steer -
Jackson Kramer - Reserve Champion Market Barrow Showperson Intermediate Division -
Tori Reynolds - Champion Market Gilt Showperson Intermediate Division -
Danica Prins - Grand Champion Market Gilt, Reserve Champion Market Gilt Showperson Senior Division -
Carter Prins - Champion Breeding Gilt Showperson Intermediate Division
Minnesota 4-Hers from 87 counties arrived with over 2,272 animals at the 2021 “Great Minnesota Get-Together” for this year’s 4-H livestock encampment held Wednesday, August 25th to Sunday August 29th. The number of livestock exhibits over the weekend included:
● Beef: 492 exhibits
● Dairy: 383 exhibits
● Goats: 274 exhibits
● Poultry: 166 exhibits
● Rabbits: 226 exhibits
● Sheep: 311 exhibits
● Swine: 361 exhibits
● Llama: 59 exhibits
● Virtual Livestock: 27 exhibits
Minnesota 4-H’ers have been preparing for this event all summer long. There are several components a member considers when they decide to exhibit livestock, including selection and preparation of the animal, educational programming, scholarship applications, and participation at county fairs.
Education is integral in the “learn by doing” philosophy of 4-H. As part of the educational component, Minnesota 4-H requires every youth participating in the livestock encampment to part in a livestock interview. Examples of the interview process include an online knowledge test, skill-a-thons, and personal interviews about their project area.
Along with interviews, all 4-H youth participating in livestock programming are required to complete the Livestock Quality Assurance and Ethics (LQA&E) Training. Through this certification, youth are educated on biosecurity, educating the public on the role of livestock, and caring for their animal’s welfare.
Many 4-H participants also have the opportunity to finance their education as recipients of scholarships. This year the Dairy Project will continue with the 12th annual Dairy Showcase and award special recognition and scholarships to 25 outstanding participants based on their dairy industry knowledge, 4-H dairy project involvement, along with state fair dairy show results. The annual 4-H Purple Ribbon Auction sponsored by the Minnesota Livestock Breeders Association (MLBA) presents 48 scholarships to youth with well-rounded leadership, community service and livestock involvement throughout their 4-H career.
4-H not only produces purple ribbon animals, but more importantly is focused on producing purple ribbon kids! Congratulations to all the youth that participated in the Livestock Encampment at the 2021 Minnesota State Fair.
2021 Livestock Interviews
Animal Science Interviews at the State Fair are designed to further enhance educational opportunities for young people exhibiting livestock. The interview process offers a visual philosophy of recognizing 4-Hers who have utilized their livestock project to grow and develop as young people. Livestock Interviews emphasize many life skills such as communication, responsibility, decision making, and problem-solving. The interview process is seen as a step to help insure the stability of youth livestock shows as a positive form of youth development.
2021 Annual 4-H Purple Ribbon Auction Draws Crowd of Supportive Bidders
Quality animals, kids, and buyers made the 42nd 4-H Purple Ribbon Auction, the annual parade of champion beef, lambs, goats, swine and poultry set seven new record prices. New this year was the addition of market chickens and market turkeys into the auction. The auction raised more than $800,000 in additional premium dollars from 115 head for Minnesota 4-H youth and Animal Science programs.
Murray County Finalist:
Grades 6-8: Daniel Larson
Murray County Results:
The Champion Market Gilt brought a price of $14,000 for Danica Prins of Murray County when Cemstone made the purchase.
2021 MLBA 4-H Purple Ribbon Auction Scholarship Recipients
Murray County Results:
Megan Supernant - $2,000/$4,000 Recipient
2021 Minnesota State Fair 4-H Swine Championship Show
There were 361 swine exhibits shown this year including both market and breeding animals during the 4-H Market Swine Show at the Minnesota State Fair on Aug. 27, 2021.
Murray County Results:
The Market Gilt Show offered extremely high quality animals for the judge to work from and in the end the Grand Champion was exhibited by Danica Prins of Murray County with her class 8 market gilt.
The market gilt showmanship competition results were: Champion Intermediate was Tori Reynolds of Murray County.
The breeding gilt showmanship competition results were: Champion Intermediate was Carter Prins of Murray County.
