SDSU Extension 4-H members earn high marks at national contests

BROOKINGS, S.D. – SDSU Extension 4-H members continued to shine at national livestock contests in 2024-2025, including a third-place finish for the hippology team.

From Jan. 8-10, 2025, four South Dakota teams traveled to the Western National Roundup in Denver, Colorado, to compete in the livestock judging and horse classic contests. South Dakota hippology team members Tarynn Torsney, Bon Homme County; Lila Stutzman, Bon Homme; and Josie Nold, Brookings County, won third place overall, second overall in team problem, second overall in exam, third overall in stations and fifth overall in judging.

Individually, Stutzman received fifth overall, second in exam and fifth in stations. Nold received eighth overall individual, 10th in exam, seventh in stations and second in judging. Torsney received 10th overall individual and fourth in exam. The team was coached by Rosie Nold.

This year, there were seven teams consisting of 20 different youth members from across the state that participated in the national livestock contests. To qualify for national competitions, youth must compete at a state-level youth-in-action contest, which includes livestock judging, livestock skill-a-thon and the state horse show. The highest-scoring teams and individuals are eligible to compete at the national level.

The horse judging team placed 10th overall in performance and 10th overall in reasons by team members Hayden Talsma, Bon Homme County; Hensley Talsma, Bon Homme; Arryanna Schnetzer, Bon Homme; and Samuel Hansen, Sanborn County. Hayden Talsma also received 13th overall individual and ninth overall in performance. The team was coached by Jennifer Torsney.

The horse quiz bowl team included Hutchinson County 4-H members Elle Goehring, Abby Goehring, Cash Martinez and Kalley Vitek. The team took home fourth overall honors and Elle Goehring also received fifth overall individually. The team was coached by Jill and Hunter Haberman.

South Dakota’s livestock judging team received 13th overall, as well as seventh in cattle, 15th in goats and seventh in swine. Team members include Lacie Weber, Brookings County; Ashlyn Roudabush, Davison County; Josie Johnson, Minnehaha County; and Charlie Cody, Minnehaha. Individually, Cody won ninth overall in cattle and Roudabush won 13th overall in swine. The team was coached by Charlene Weber.

South Dakota youth also competed at the North American International Livestock Exhibition in the livestock skill-a-thon and livestock judging contests on Nov. 18-19, 2024. The skill-a-thon team, Hope Baysinger, Sanborn County; Delaney Zoss, Sanborn; Mattisyn Keppen, Brookings County; and Carissa Scheel, Buffalo-Jerauld, won 15th overall in the team competition and sixth overall in quality assurance. The team was coached by Audra Scheel.

Livestock judging team members won sixth place overall, third in swine, sixth in beef, eighth in reasons and 11th in performance cattle. Team members include Landon Berg, Hanson County; Quinton Berg, Hanson County; Payton Beare, Hand County; and Patrick Kralicek, Yankton County.

Individually, Beare won 12th overall and 10th in performance cattle, Quinton Berg received 14th overall, Landon Berg received 10th in swine and Kralicek received 11th in swine. Payton and Quinton were also awarded the All-American honors for livestock judging. The livestock judging team was coached by Frank Kralicek Jr. and Heidi Berg.

South Dakota youth also won 16th overall in the 4-H/FFA division at the American Royal Livestock Judging contest on Oct. 20, 2024. Team members were Ashlyn Roudabush, Davison County; Mattisyn Keppen, Brookings; Natalie Marshall, Miner County; and Josie Johnson, Minnehaha. The team was coached by Adam Mohrhauser.

SDSU Extension 4-H hippology team members Tarynn Torsney, Bon Homme County; Lila Stutzman, Bon Homme; and Josie Nold, Brookings County, won third place overall, second overall in team problem, second overall in exam, third overall in stations and fifth overall in judging at the 2025 Western National Roundup in Denver, Colorado.

The SDSU Extension 4-H horse judging team placed 10th overall in performance and 10th overall in reasons at the 2025 Western National Roundup in Denver, Colorado. Team members were Hayden Talsma, Bon Homme County; Hensley Talsma, Bon Homme; Arryanna Schnetzer, Bon Homme; and Samuel Hansen, Sanborn County. The team was coached by Jennifer Torsney.

The SDSU Extension horse quiz bowl team included Hutchinson County 4-H members Elle Goehring, Abby Goehring, Cash Martinez and Kalley Vitek. The team took home fourth overall honors at the 2025 Western National Roundup in Denver, Colorado. They were coached by Jill and Hunter Haberman.

SDSU Extension’s livestock judging team received 13th overall at the 2025 Western National Roundup in Denver, Colorado. Team members include Lacie Weber, Brookings County; Ashlyn Roudabush, Davison County; Josie Johnson, Minnehaha County; and Charlie Cody, Minnehaha. They were coached by Charlene Weber.

Hope Baysinger, Sanborn County; Delaney Zoss, Sanborn; Mattisyn Keppen, Brookings County; and Carissa Scheel, Buffalo-Jerauld, won 15th overall in the livestock skill-a-thon team competition and sixth overall in quality assurance at the North American International Livestock Exhibition on Nov. 18-19, 2024. They were coached by Audra Scheel.

South Dakota livestock judging team members won sixth place overall at the North American International Livestock Exhibition on Nov. 18-19, 2024. Team members include Landon Berg, Hanson County; Quinton Berg, Hanson County; Payton Beare, Hand County; and Patrick Kralicek, Yankton County. Coaches were Frank Kralicek Jr. and Heidi Berg.

Ashlyn Roudabush, Davison County; Mattisyn Keppen, Brookings; Natalie Marshall, Miner County; and Josie Johnson, Minnehaha; won 16th overall in the 4-H/FFA division at the American Royal Livestock Judging contest on Oct. 20, 2024. Their coach was Adam Mohrhauser.

-South Dakota State University Extension