By Andi Anderson
The Thanks and Ranks Livestock Invitational invites young agricultural enthusiasts to participate in this year’s judging competition, set for Friday, November 21, at the Sangamon County Fairgrounds, 318 W Birch St., New Berlin, Illinois. The contest offers an excellent opportunity for 4-H and FFA members to showcase their livestock evaluation skills and strengthen teamwork.
Participants must pre-register by November 18, and any changes after that date should be emailed to cagans@tricityschools.org. On-site registration will be open from 8:00 to 8:45 a.m., and the contest will officially begin at 9:00 a.m.
The event features two divisions: Junior (8th grade or younger) and Senior (9th–12th grade). Students can move up from junior to senior, but not the reverse. Both 4-H and FFA members will compete together, and there will be no separate reasons division this year.
The registration fee is $5 per contestant, payable on-site. Teams will consist of four contestants, and the top three scores will count toward the overall team score. If a group has more than two teams, a separate registration form should be submitted for each. Individual participants are also welcome and can compete as a team of one.
This year’s contest will use paper scorecards, and results will be announced at the event. Winners will receive banners and recognition for their achievements.
For further questions, participants can contact cagans@tricityschools.org or Allie Bode from the Facilitating Coordination in Agricultural Education (FCAE) program at abode@ilaged.org or 309-973-6335.
Registration can be completed through the official form at: Thanks and Ranks Livestock Invitational Registration.
This event continues to celebrate agricultural learning and youth engagement, encouraging students to develop valuable livestock evaluation and leadership skills.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-ahavelaar
Categories: Illinois, Rural Lifestyle