Ward County 4-H Livestock Judging Team, from left to right, are Natalee Becker, Amber Braasch, Grace Ones, Kyra Fox and Shelsey Brandvold. Coach Colby Hennessy is holding Bray.

FARGO – The Ward County 4-H Livestock Judging Team placed ninth overall at the North Dakota State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest in Fargo on March 4.

Representing Ward County 4-H were team members Amber Braasch of Minot, Grace Ones of Norma, Kyra Fox of Palermo, Shelsey Brandvold of Ryder and Natalee Becker of Sawyer.

In Livestock Judging, contestants analyze four animals of different livestock species, including beef cattle, hogs, goats, and sheep and rank the animals of each species first through fourth place. After placing their class, the contestants present reasons for the rankings to a judge.

At this contest, contestants placed Simmental heifers, wether dams, breeding gilts, Red Angus bulls, breeding does, crossbred barrows, Hereford heifer calves, market lambs, and Crossbred market gilts, and answered 10 scenario questions. In addition, contestants gave reasons for the wether dams, Red Angus bulls and Crossbred barrows classes.

The Ward County results are as follows:

— 2nd Place Individual, Ones in Reasons.

— 4th Place Individual, Ones in Sheep classes.

— 4th Place Team in Reasons.

— 7th Place Team in Beef classes.

— 7th Place Team in Sheep classes.

— 9th Place Team Overall.