Livestock Herdsmanship

DEPARTMENT LIVESTOCK HERDSMANSHIP

DIVISION 9 - HERDSMANSHIP

• HERDSMANSHIP RESPONSIBILITY – Herdsmanship duties are the responsibility of all club members and independent members rather than leaders and parents. Exhibitors are expected to keep their exhibit area orderly, neat, and attractive. They are also expected to be courteous and helpful to visitors. All club members and independent members are responsible for final cleaning of their own messes.
  • All recognized 4-H/FFA clubs and independent members are eligible.
  • WHEN HERDSMANSHIP BEGINS AND STOPS – Herdsmanship begins at 8 a.m. on Thursday, July 16, and ends when livestock leave the premises and final cleaning is completed.
  • WHEN HERDSMANSHIP IS JUDGED – Chore time and cleanup will be hours 7 to 8 a.m.; feeding and cleaning of stalls from 5 to 6 p.m.; with herdsmanship judged at any time between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
  • DIVISIONS JUDGED SEPARATELY – Each livestock division (beef, sheep, swine, dairy, poultry, rabbit, and goats) will be judged separately on a point-basis.
  • HERDSMANSHIP will be judged as a family unit, not by club or individual. Ribbons and special awards will be presented at the 2024 4-H Achievement Night.
  • BASIS OF RATING HERDSMANSHIP – Judges will use the following scoring guide in judging exhibits for herdsmanship.
    • Animals: (4 points)

Clean at all times with proper grooming, feed, bedding and care apparent, properly penned and secured.

• Stalls: (4 points)

Clean and neat, clean bedding, full water bucket, feed and feed pan and buckets clean and in place, no manure in stall area, exhibitors signs clearly in place.

• Tack/Feed Area: (4 points)

Kept clean and neatly arranged, grooming and tie-out areas kept clean, personal items out of sight or neatly stored.

• Alleyways: (4 points)

Exhibitors designated alleys and commons areas kept clean, free of equipment, loose dirt and dust kept under control with proper sweeping and/or sprinkling, no manure in piles.

• Exhibitors: (4 points)

Proper courtesy and conduct shown by exhibitors at all times and in all places including with the public and other exhibitors. All exhibitors are expected to participate in Herdsmanship.

Classes:

G110001. BEEF HERDSMANSHIP 

G130002. SHEEP HERDSMANSHIP 

G135003. SWINE HERDSMANSHIP 

G140004. DAIRY HERDSMANSHIP 

G150005. GOAT HERDSMANSHIP 

G071006. POULTRY HERDSMANSHIP 

G082007. RABBIT HERDSMANSHIP