AMES, Iowa – This year, 192 youth from 49 Iowa counties participated in Iowa State University Extension and Outreach skillathons for meat goats, sheep and swine at the Iowa State Fair. The swine and sheep skillathons took place on Aug. 11 and a goat skillathon was held on Aug. 14.
Each skillathon team comprised three individuals and included five stations where youth worked together to solve problems and identify goat, swine or sheep production components. Participants identified feed samples, breeds and meat cuts while answering questions about genetics, nutrients, quality assurance, handling and welfare.
Amy Powell, animal science agriculture and natural resources specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, developed and coordinated the events.
“One of the main goals of the skillathon is to highlight the knowledge gained through participation in our livestock projects. Our livestock shows are more than just the animal in the showring,” Powell said.
Swine skillathon participants noted they learned about selecting reproductive traits, nutrients and food quality of pork, and various feed nutrients, working together and problem solving as a team. They reported expanding their knowledge of the swine industry and getting to challenge themselves and step outside their comfort zones.
Many noted learning about heritage breeds. “[I learned] more about the breeds and feeds,” said Logan Feldman of Chickasaw County. “I learned that a Tamworth and Meshaun are heritage breeds.” Caleb Keegan of Linn County added that he learned “a lot about the heritage breeds, which with all my years of showing I had very little knowledge on.”
Sheep skillathon participants reflected they learned about how to judge the cuts of lamb; the difference in breeds; the different types of energy types, feeds and fences for sheep; which bedding types are best for absorbency and how to responsibly dispose of bedding; and about sheep nutrition.
Goat skillathon participants reported learning about goat breeds, production and eating habits; the different types of hay and grass and their fiber contents; different cuts of goat meats and how they differ from other species; the difference between copper sulfate and cobalt carbonate; and artificial insemination tools for goats.
Olivia Hanson of Benton County said, “I love getting to experience this contest every year with my friends.” “[The goat skillathon allows me to] test and share my knowledge about goats in a competitive way,” added Suzi Fredricks of Warren County.
“[Participating in skillathons allows me to] spend time with other exhibitors and further my knowledge of the industry,” said Lindsay Beyer of Buchanan County.
All participants received a T-shirt and the top five teams were recognized in goat and sheep. The top 10 teams were recognized for swine. Awards for the swine skillathon were sponsored by the Iowa Pork Producers Association. The sheep and goat skillathons were sponsored by Premier 1 Supplies.
“We offer special thanks to the 33 volunteers from the ISU Department of Animal Science, Iowa Pork Producers and 4-H who served as station facilitators,” said Celine Beggs-Shoemaker, Iowa State Fair livestock superintendent and 4-H animal science specialist.
Skillathon winners
Swine
- Tucker Rohrig and Taylor Rohrig (Adair County) and Brady Allan (Plymouth County)
- Tucker Holtz, Beau Keegan and Caleb Keegan (Linn County)
- Kinze Manson, Caleigh Lewis and Bella Edler (Benton County)
- William Voyles (Sac County), Kooper Bean and Brock White (Buena Vista County)
- Wyatt Baxter and Trudy Baxter (Allamakee County) and Rae-Lynn Meitner (Mitchell County)
- Preston VonStein, Ryan Faidley and Barret Clark (Polk County)
- Tyler Beitz, Lincoln Stanberry and Cooper Schulte (Delaware County)
- Alexa Fahy, Ella Fahy and Chanslee Meitner (Mitchell County)
- Beau Morris (Bremer County), Natalie Feldman and Logan Feldman (Chickasaw County)
- Lauren Holthaus, Jerikah Dodd and Brooks Dodd (Winneshiek County)
Sheep
- Cash Williams and Matthew Samuelson (Boone County) and Jarrett McClain (Guthrie County)
- Tucker Rohrig and Taylor Rohrig (Adair County) and Brady Allan (Plymouth County)
- Owen Atwater (Marion County), Broody Bourke (Polk County) and Gensley Ball (Clay County)
- Madealyn Forbes and Kooper Bean (Buena Vista County) and Conner Rawling (Buchanan County)
- Creed Harker, Cooper Schilling and Mason Tomas (Johnson County)
Meat Goat
- Tucker Rohrig and Taylor Rohrig (Adair County) and Colton Pepin (Woodbury County)
- Sawyer Curry, Case Curry and Cash Williams (Boone County)
- Sydney Stremslerfer, Lilian Buie (Jefferson County) and Zane Smith (Van Buren County)
- Lindsay Beyer (Buchanan County), Will McKenna and Olivia Hanson (Benton County)
- Kaden Case and Rachel Case (Marshall County) and Adeline Lampe (Lee County)
For more information on Iowa 4-H Skillathons, please visit the Iowa 4-H website or contact Amy Powell at 515-294-3441 or [email protected].
–ISU Extension