Livestock Judging Project

Project Description 

This project teaches you to select and evaluate livestock, give oral reasons, and place classes of livestock.

Evaluation of livestock is an exciting and thought-provoking experience. One of the goals of Livestock Judging is to compare your perception of the animal against the ideal. Then deciding and contrasting your opinion with other individual animals in the group.

There are no levels within this project. With practice your ability to place classes accurately increases. Which in a contest increases your scores.

Project Requirements

Project Books Required? No

Project books can be purchased here

*** Please note, if you do not attend at least one workshop in your project area during the 4-H year, you will be required to complete activities in your project book and turn it in with your record book. The number of activities required to complete a 4-H year in each project book can be found here. 

Project age limit?

8 and up

What needs to be accomplished to move on to future levels? 

There are no levels other than junior and seniors. Progressive advancement in success and scores shows improvement from year to year. 

What do new 4-H families need to know about this project?

• There is a $75 project fee.
• Judging Pro website - Resources
• Juding.com - Practice classes for judging & reasons This project requires no equipment, only your active participation. A judging pro booklet can be purchased, but handouts and online resources are available. 
• Weekly call in practices
• September - Live animal practices
• October - April online practice & weekly calls for oral reasons

Outline of Activities for the 2024-2025 4-H Year

• Mid October - NILE & weekly calls
• Mid November - MSU John Deere Days & weekly calls
• December -weekly calls with christmas break
• Mid January - KMON Great Falls, Lewistown Winterfest & weekly calls
• February - Miles City Contest
• March - Break
• Mid April - Missoula Contest & weekly calls
• May - Shelby Fairgrounds 4-H Contest & weekly calls
• August - Meet and set weekly practice day
• September - Weekly practice outside on livestock field trips 

Project Superintendent Information

Livestock Judging Superintendent: Georgana Webster
Contact: legallyblondentall(at)gmail.com or 406-438-2842
How will you be contacted? Text, email and phone.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Montana State University and the Montana State University Extension Service prohibit discrimination in all of their programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital and family status. Issued in furtherance of cooperative extension work in agriculture and home economics, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Jeff Bader, Director of Extension, Extension Service, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717