The Austin County 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl Team consisting of, Maddie McCullough, Darcy Luedke, Katie Schumann, and Katelyn Krenek has safely arrived in Colorado to participate in the Western National Roundup. This annual event, held January 8-11, 2025, in Denver, brings together 4-H and FFA members from across the United States. It fosters teamwork, self-confidence, and leadership skills while focusing on the 4-H Mission Mandates: Science, Engineering, Technology, Mathematics (STEM), Healthy Living, and Citizenship.
Participants at the Western National Roundup compete in a variety of events, including: hippology, horse bowl, horse judging, horse presentations, horse public speaking, livestock judging, livestock quiz bowl, meat judging, parliamentary procedure and public speaking.
The Livestock Quiz Bowl challenges students with questions on current events and issues in the beef, dairy, goat, sheep, and swine industries. Participants study significant industry concerns such as animal diseases, exports, animal identification, environmental issues, and regulatory changes. There may also be limited questions on dairy and small animal production, including poultry and rabbits.
The competition is structured into three phases:
- Phase One: Individuals from each team face off over 12 questions answered without teammate assistance.
- Phase Two: Teams alternate answering five questions each. Team members can discuss answers, but only one member responds.
- Phase Three: Teams compete in a toss-up and bonus round with 16 questions. Any team member can buzz in to answer toss-up questions. Correct toss-up answers may lead to bonus questions, which can be discussed by the team but answered by one member.
The Western National Roundup provides a national platform for youth to showcase their skills in areas such as animal science, public speaking, and leadership. By participating, 4-H and FFA members gain valuable life skills, including critical thinking, communication, and teamwork, while achieving recognition on a national stage.
