Stanley Wilson Beef Teaching Unit | Auburn, AL | Tuesday, June 16, 2026

2026 Registration Packet and Instructions

Eligibility

Competition is open to enrolled members of Alabama 4-H. 4-H membership is available for youth ages 9 to 18. Age is calculated on December 31 of the current 4-H year. To be eligible for competition at events held between August 1, 2025, and July 31, 2026, the member must be 9 years old prior to January 1, 2026. 4-H members must be enrolled in Alabama by March 26, 2026, 90 days before the statewide competition with a culminating national competition.

The 2026 State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest will consist of two different age divisions:

• Junior Division: 4-H members who are between 9 and 13 years old before January 1, 2026.
• Senior Division: 4-H members who are between 14 and 18 years old before January 1, 2026.

4-H Club Membership and County Guidelines

Regardless of where Alabama youth reside, they are welcome to establish their primary 4-H club membership in their county of residence or an adjoining county of Alabama. Membership is established annually when an enrollment form is completed and submitted to the leader of the primary 4-H club. Members enjoy the 4-H activities offered in their county of primary membership and represent this county when participating in county, regional/district, and state events.

If the special interest is not available within the county of primary membership, the member is welcome to join a special interest club in an adjoining county.

If exceptions to these guidelines are needed, youth may submit a request in writing to the assistant director for 4-H, Casey Mull, at cdm0165@aces.edu prior to May 15, 2026. Examples of exceptions might include an out-ofstate resident desiring membership in Alabama 4-H, a special circumstance needed to accommodate custodial and noncustodial parents, or a situation where a nonadjoining county is in close proximity.

Individuals with Special Needs

4-H members with special needs, including language translation requests, should be requested in writing by June 12 to the More Information contact on the next page:

Entry in the contest is available through 4HOnline. Registration will open in 4HOnline on May 1, 2026 and close at 11:59 p.m. on June 9, 2026.

The 2026 State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest is open to all 4-H members for participation and competition. Competition is for individuals and for teams that shall consist of a minimum of three members. A county team is made up of three or four individuals in an age division, with the top three overall scores comprising the team total. Coaches will designate at check-in which members will be on the team of three or four and which will be considered alternates. Alternates will compete as individuals and remain eligible for individual awards. If a contestant on the winning county team chooses not to compete at the National Contest, an alternate from their county or club who participated in the State Contest that year will be eligible to compete at the National Contest.

Only one team per county per age group is permitted. There is no limit to the number of individuals from a county that can participate. If a county has two or more distinct 4-H clubs each having a separate and distinct livestock judging team, the county may have a team representing each separate and distinct club.

Fall Contests

The first-place county senior 4-H team will have the opportunity to represent Alabama 4-H at the National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky.

Instructions

1. All contestants must have a pencil or pen. All contestants must bring their own notebooks or paper for taking notes for oral reasons and questions.

2. All contestants in all divisions will use Universal Form A Scantrons. Scantrons must be filled out using a #2 pencil only. Contestants are responsible for properly filling out all requested information and placings. If a placing or question answer is not filled out correctly (not bubbled, bubbled twice, etc.), the contestant will receive a zero for that class or question. Contest results, including electronic copies of each contestant’s scantron, will be available on judgingcard.com after the conclusion of the awards.

3. Participants will be provided a contestant number that will identify them throughout the duration of the contest.

4. Juniors will give one to two sets of oral reasons and have two sets of questions. Seniors will give four sets of oral reasons and have sets of questions. An exact class list will be provided as soon as possible before the contest, outlining classes and associated details. Contestants will be assigned to groups at the beginning of the contest. They must stay with their assigned group leader until all classes are judged. Only group leaders and ring stewards will be allowed in the contest area.

5. Because members from a county may be in the same group, instruct your members about not talking to anyone other than a group leader. Talking or conferring during the contest is prohibited. The contestant cannot wear any markings, clothing items, or jewelry that reveals identity or area of residency. All forms of tobacco use are prohibited. Personal communication devices are prohibited. Contestants talking to anyone other than a group leader may be disqualified.

6. Twelve minutes will be allowed for all classes. Signals will be given to start the class and at various intervals to indicate time remaining. When the final signal is given, cards will be collected.

7. Lunch will be provided for all contestants during a break period in the contest. Coaches and leaders should plan to meet their contestants at the conclusion of their contests.

8. Registration begins at 7:00 a.m. with the contest starting at 8:00 a.m. Once the contest has started, no additional contestants will be allowed to participate.

9. Contestants cannot have taken a postsecondary course in livestock evaluation.

10. All contest results will be announced at the event and overall scoring raw data will be provided to the official coaches of record to share with 4-H members and families as a teaching and coaching tool.

More Information

Reid McGuire, Youth Livestock Program Manager

Animal Sciences, 242 Upchurch Hall

Auburn University, AL 36849

Cell: (334) 752-3759

Email: erm0135@aces.edu

Reid McGuire, Youth Livestock Program Manager, Auburn University

Revised May 2026, Alabama 4-H State Livestock Judging Contest, 4HYD-2255