Program Overview

Introduction to the 2025 State Meat Judging Contest

The North Dakota 4-H Meat Judging Contest provides an opportunity for youth enrolled in 4-H Livestock projects to enhance their carcass evaluation and retail identification skills. Meat judging programs are currently the most effective tool for the recruitment and development of future meat science technologists in existence today.

Objectives and Outcomes

• Stimulate learning in animal science, agricultural industry, and the meat industry
• Youth develop positive interests and attitudes about meat evaluation, animal science, and related careers
• Youth gain a base understanding of cuts of meat, meat terminology, food safety, and meat selection
• Youth will utilize skills and abilities to solve everyday situations
• Youth gain valuable consumer experience for culinary skills impacting their future
• Provide a competitive setting where attitudes of friendliness and fairness prevail
• Participants will process information, analyze complex problems, and make informed decisions regarding current meat industry decisions
• Develop teamwork, self-confidence, public speaking, and decision-making skills
• Increased number of participants seek higher education opportunities and careers in animal science

Age Divisions

• Junior 4-H division: Youth ages 8 to 11 years old and enrolled in North Dakota 4-H as a full-time 4-H member
• Intermediate 4-H division: Youth ages 11 to 13 years old and enrolled in North Dakota 4-H as a full-time 4-H member
• Senior 4-H division: Youth age 14 to 18 on December 31, 2018, and enrolled in North Dakota 4-H as a full-time 4-H member

Who May Enter

• Contestants must be enrolled in North Dakota 4-H as a full-time member in the county they represent
• Counties may enter any number of participants in either age division
• All participants are eligible for individual awards
• Counties may combine to form a team provided neither county has more than 2 participants

Contest Guidelines

• National 4-H Contest rules apply
• Local managers may modify rules and procedures as needed to conduct the event in the allowed time
• There is a $2 registration fee
• Registration is done on JudgingCard.com
• No electronic devices will be allowed during the contest
• Scantrons will be used for the entire contest
• Contestants must bring their own #2 pencils for scantrons

Contest Format

Juniors

• Will judge 6 meat classes (300 points)
• Ten meat class questions (50 points)
• Ten retail meat Cut ID (100 points)

Intermediates

• Will judge 6 meat classes (300 points)
• Ten meat class questions (50 points)
• Twenty retail meat Cut ID (200 points)

Seniors

• Will judge 6 meat classes (300 points)
• Fifteen meat class questions (75 points)
• Thirty retail meat Cut ID (300 points)

Tie-Breaking

All ties overall, individual and team, will be broken using the following sequence:

1. Questions scores overall
2. Judging scores overall
3. Meat classes will be ranked prior to the start of the contest to serve as the final tiebreaker

Awards and Results

• Full-time enrolled North Dakota 4-H participants are eligible for individual ribbon awards for the top five individuals in each division
• Top three teams overall in each division
• Senior 4-H division first place team will be eligible to represent North Dakota 4-H at the National Contest

Additional Resources

• Retail ID Lists
• ND County 4-H Numbers
• Meat judging resources
• YouTube resources from Texas Tech University and Wisconsin Youth Meat Judging Resources