Seven Niobrara County 4-H members competed at the 2018 State 4-H Meat Judging Contests held in Laramie, April 28th and brought home a State Championship Team Title and numerous individual honors. 

The junior meat team was composed of Melody ZumBrunnen, Kort Bannan, Aiden Applegarth and Gracie ZumBrunnen. This group tallied 1,851 points to claim the championship title. They received a banner donated by the Marian Henderson Memorial and individual team plaques donated by the Wyoming 4-H Foundation.  Fremont County was the second-place junior division team with 1,846, Natrona placed third with 1,821, Albany took fourth with 1,819 and Uinta rounded out the top five with 1,648. There was a total of nine junior teams competing in this division. This is the first time since 2009 that Niobrara has claimed the State Championship title in the junior division,

Melody ZumBrunnen paced the home team with 624 total points placing her third overall in the intermediate division (ages 11 – 13).  She received a plaque donated by the 4-H Foundation for this honor. In addition, Melody was the high intermediate overall in retail cut identification with a perfect score. She received a plaque donated by Albany County Title for this prestigious acomplishment. Melody was also eighth in placing of classes.

Kort Bannan earned 620 points to place fourth overall in the intermediate division, Kort was also the high intermediate overall in questions and reasons and received a plaque from the Wyoming 4-H Foundation.  Kort was also sixth in total placings and ninth in retail cut identification,

Aiden Applegarth placed seventh overall in the intermediate division with a score of 607.  Aiden was also fourth in retail cut ID and eleventh in placings. 

Gracie ZumBrunnen rounded out the junior team placing tenth overall in the intermediate division with 596 points. Gracie was also the seventh high individual in retail cut identification.

Wyatt Strauch and Francheska Bannan did an excellent job competing as individuals in the junior age division (ages 8 – 10).  Wyatt earned 538 total points to place third overall in the junior contest and received a plaque from the 4-H Foundation, He was also recognized for placing third in retail cut identification and seventh in questions and reasons. Francheska tallied 490 points to place eighth overall and she was seventh in total placings and retail cut ID. 

Kylie Strauch competed as an individual in the senior division (ages 14 - 18). Kylie gathered 740 points to place eighth overall. She was also honored for placing tenth in oral reasons, placings and retail cut identification.

There were twenty-nine senior individuals competing, twenty-two intermediates and sixteen juniors competing in this contest. There was also eight senior teams and nine junior teams, representing six different counties. 

According to team coach, Tammie Jensen, “these members have been dedicated to preparing for this contest and studying meat identification, quality and cutability for the last twe;ve weeks. These members did a great job of representing themselves and Niobrara County. I am very proud of them and their personal growth and accomplishments.”

All Niobrara County youth were coached by 4-H volunteer Tammie Jensen. The county group was chaperoned by Carrie Bannan, Amy Strauch and Jensen.