In a bit of a role reversal, 24 North Dakota leaders will try their hand at 4-H livestock showmanship Friday in the first-ever 4-H Leadership Showmanship Contest at the North Dakota State Fair.

The event will take place in Arena 2 of the State Fair Center Complex. It starts at 3 p.m. with a social. At 4:30 p.m., the 24 4-H’ers who won champion or reserve champion at the intermediate and senior level in showmanship for six livestock species at the State Fair earlier this week will be paired with a North Dakota leader for the 4-H Leaders Showmanship Contest. The youth will give their leader tips on how to show a specific species of livestock. The youth also will teach the leader the importance of the technique for showing the assigned livestock species.

The contest begins at 5 p.m. with the 4-H youth serving as judges. Awards will be presented at 6 p.m.

The leaders who have confirmed for the contest include:

– Gov. Doug Burgum

– Sen. Rich Wardner, District 37, Dickinson

– Rep. Corey Mock, District 18, Grand Forks

– Sen. Jim Roers, District 46, Fargo

– Sen. Jason Heitkamp, District 26, Wahpeton

– Rep. Don Longmuir, District 2, Stanley

– Sen. Robert Erbele, District 28, Lehr

– Rep. Dennis Johnson, District 15, Devils Lake

– Sen. Dale Patton, District 39, Watford City

– Sen. David Hogue, District 38 Minot

– Sen. David Rust, District 2, Tioga

– Sen. Jay Elkin, District 36, Taylor

– Rep. Sebastian Ertelt, District 26, Lisbon

– NDSU President Dean Bresciani, Fargo

– NDSU VP for Agriculture Greg Lardy, Fargo

– NDSU Associate Director Extension Lynette Flage, Fargo

– NDSU Interim 4-H Department Chair Leigh Ann Skurupey, Fargo

– Minot Mayor Shaun Sipma

– Minot CVB Executive Director Stephanie Schoenrock

– State Fair Director Mark Schaunaman, Ashley

– North Dakota 4-H Foundation Executive Director Penny Dale, Fargo

– State Board of Agricultural Research and Education Chairman Mark Birdsall, Berthold

– KFYR-TV – Jody Kerzman, Bismarck