Ward County 4-H crops judging members are traveling across the state to compete and improve their skills.

In crops judging contests, contestants must identify crops and weeds by their seeds, insects, equipment and machinery, different types of crop disorders, and market grade factors for wheat and durum.

Ward County 4-H participated at two recent contests by a Junior Crops Judging team who are youth 8 to 13 years old.

Competing in the West River Judging Contest held at Beulah on Feb. 23 were Abby Finke and Makayla White, both Berthold, and Daylon Yanish, Carpio. Finke placed second, White placed ninth and Yanish placed 11th. As a team, they placed third overall.

At the Turtle Lake-Mercer contest on March 2, there was no Junior division for the crops judgers to compete in, so they completed with the Senior judgers. Those representing Ward County were Finke, Mark Schauer, Carpio, White and Yanish. The young team placed 26th out of 39 teams. This allowed the team to have a good, quality experience before competing in the state 4-H contest. The state 4-H Crops judging contest was held at the North Dakota Winter Show in Valley City on March 9.