Saskatchewan 4-H hosted its final stop of the year in Lloydminster over the Heritage Day long weekend.
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The event serves as a major showcase for 4-H members.
“This is basically our grand finale for the year for our members,” said Ashley L’Henaff, livestock program co-ordinator for 4-H Saskatchewan.
“We are the provincial 4-H judging competition. Members from around the province had to qualify to compete here, and we have 34 competing in that. We’re also hosting the provincial beef show and the provincial sheep show.”
“The beef and sheep shows are new to Lloydminster,” she added.
Youth aged six to 21 compete in the various events.
“All these members have worked on their projects all year long,” L’Henaff said.
The judging competition aims to prepare older members for national-level events.
“Our judging competition is catered towards older members because the goal is to qualify to compete at Agribition,” L’Henaff said, noting eight participants will advance to compete at the Canadian Western Agribition in Regina this November.
The competition and shows provide a natural next step for members following their local achievement days.
“The whole reason we created this was to have a way to celebrate their achievements,” she said. “A lot of them finish their achievement day and ask, ‘Now what?’ This is that next step on a provincial level for everyone to see. That’s why it was created three years ago and why it has become a collaboration of the three events, so we can celebrate together.”
Turnout was slightly down this year as a combination of factors impacted registration numbers.
“We took a bit of a hit to our numbers this year,” L’Henaff said. “It’s a tricky weekend—everybody’s busy, we’re all farmers, and we are behind on haying. We’re hopeful for next year.”
While this is a flagship event for 4-H Saskatchewan, the organization hosts activities throughout the year.
“We do other provincial events—there’s summer camp and the AGM—that are targeted to different groups, but this is the only provincial-level livestock show and judging competition,” she said.
The event moves to Saskatoon next year.
“We do bounce around the province,” L’Henaff said. “Last year we were in Yorkton, and the year before that we were in Melfort.”
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