Escambia County 4-H is proud to announce that the intermediate and senior 4-H meat judging teams both placed first at the state 4-H meat judging contest held virtually on Saturday, Aug. 8.
Participants had to identify 40 retail cuts and place retail/primal/carcass classes. The senior team, ages 14 and older, included Jessica Conti, Chad Sasser, Ethan Thorne and Hannah Thorne. The Intermediate team, ages 11-13, included Abigail B., Alan B., Gracie Meredith and Tucker Padgett. When the individual scores were tallied, Jessica Conti was the senior high individual and Tucker was the intermediate high individual, the top meat judging 4-H members in Florida.
The other individual results include Chad Sasser placing 10th, Ethan Thorne placing 3rd, and Hannah Thorne placing 2nd in the senior division with Abigail placing 4th, Alan placing 3rd, and Gracie Meredith placing 2nd in the intermediate division.
The senior 4-H meat judging team that competed in the Western National Roundup meat judging contest in Denver in January 2020 now has the opportunity to compete in the National 4-H meat judging contest in October 2020. The upcoming contest is currently scheduled to occur face-to-face at Kansas State University, with the awards ceremony at the American Royal in Kansas City, MO.
The 4-H meat judging program develops life skills through activities related to the processing of beef, pork, and lamb, including retail identification, factors relating to meat quality, and cooking methods. Participants developed an understanding and appreciation of the basic scientific principles involved in eating and cooking quality, nutritional value, and consumer appeal of meat. 4-H members on the team also learned life skills such as effective decision-making, critical thinking, goal setting, and teamwork.
The Escambia County 4-H meat judging teams would like to thank Winn-Dixie on Highway 29 in Cantonment and The Butcher Shoppe on Langley Avenue in Pensacola for allowing the team to practice at their facilities. Community support helps the Escambia County 4-H program remain successful.

