by COLLEEN HAWKESFORD of the Weyburn Review
A local 4-H member has earned a place on the Saskatchewan 4-H judging team and will compete against other provinces during the national 4-H judging competition at Agribition in November.
Darren Ippolito of the Weyburn team competed against 43 other youth during a contest held in Weyburn last weekend to determine Saskatchewan's 4-H judging team.
It was Ippolito's first time in the provincial judging ring and he placed first in three of six judging categories: top sheep judge, top draft horse judge and top beef heifer judge.
"I was happy with the way it all ended up," Ippolito said.
Ippolito, a member of the Arcola-Kisbey 4-H Beef Club and a native of Kisbey, said he believes Saskatchewan's team has a good chance at winning the national event at Agribition.
"This might be one of the better teams that has gone in the last 10 years," Ippolito said. "Maybe they're more even, there's no real superstars on it. There are a lot of kids that can bring your average up."
Ippolito, 17, has been judging animals for seven of his eight years in 4-H. He plans to continue with judging as a hobby, but doesn't plan to pursue it as a career.
Ippolito said the provincial event in Weyburn was well organized and the Weyburn Ag Society should be commended for the work they did on the competition.
Contestants competed in eight categories including sheep, swine, dairy, draft horse, beef heifer and beef bull judging. Their skills in oral reasoning were also examined, and they had to write an exam.
"It went really well and really fast," said Joanne Hedstrom, Regional 4-H Specialist in Weyburn. Hedstrom said six teams of 43 4-Hers participated from across the prairies.
Weyburn resident Marla Holdstock was named an alternate for the judging team going to Agribition.
Individual winners last weekend included Kristin Marshall, also on the Weyburn team and a native of Yellow Grass, who won the Top Oral Reasons category.
Other winners include Amanda Hughes of the Saskatoon team for top dairy judge, Celeste Nordal of the Whitewood team for top beef bull judged, Jennifer Hutchison of the Prince Albert team, Celia Ruest of the Swift Current team and Dena Burnett of the Swift Current team for top swine judging.
Top written exam was taken by Laura Smith of the Saskatoon team, Janine Nordal of the Whitewood team, and Kim Olson of the Prince Albert team.
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