JWCC Ag Alumni Association to Host 23rd Annual Livestock Judging Contest September 18

Students evaluate sheep during the JWCC Livestock Judging Contest at the Baylis JWCC Ag Center.
September 25, 2026

Baylis, IL— High school and middle school students from 51 Illinois and Missouri schools honed their skills for a future career in agriculture at John Wood Community College’s Ag Alumni Association’s 23rd Annual Livestock Judging Invitational on Friday, September 18, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the College’s Agricultural Education Center near Baylis, a facility shared with the University of Illinois.  The event is held by John Wood Agriculture Alumni Association and JWCC Livestock Evaluation Club.

 Livestock judging competitions help students to make decisions, strengthen, and improve their power of observation and apply scientific principles of animal growth and development. Evaluation of various species, including cattle, swine, sheep and goats. Contestants as individuals and teams rank animals based on specific criteria and compare them to those considered ideal as determined by animal industry experts serving as official judges.

Students were also judged on their ability to accurately evaluate one class of each species by answering ten questions about the differences observed in the class. The official judges present the correct placings and provide learning opportunities for the students following the competition.

2026 Contest Results

Varsity

  • Top teams: 1. Taylorville, 2,123 points; 2. Abingdon-Avon HS 1, 2,063; 3. Franklin 1, 2,055.
  • Top individuals: 1. Claire Harris, Franklin 1, 568 points; 2. Deacon Shanks, Taylorville, 558; 3. Cooper Gibb, Henderson County 4-H, 544.

Junior Varsity

  • Top teams: 1. Taylorville, 2,077 points; 2. Marion County 4-H, 1,988; 3. Cissna Park 1, 1,925.
  • Top individuals: 1. Maylee Adams, Marion County 4-H, 540 points; 2. Collins Brown, Winchester 1, 533; 3. Levi Paulek, Taylorville, 524.

For more information contact Jody Heavner, Director, JWCC Agriculture Education Center, at jheavner@jwcc.edu or call 217.641.4236. JWCC’s Agricultural Education Center is located at 37803 IL-104, Baylis, IL 62314.

Schools Participating:

Abingdon-Avon

Auburn

Brown County

Bushnell – Prairie City

Calhoun

Central – Camp Point

Cissna Park

Farmington Central

Franklin

Grant Park

Hamilton

Henderson County 4-H

Holy Heroes 4-H

Illini West

Jacksonville

Liberty

Macomb

Marion County 4-H

Marion County MO

Meredosia-Chambersburg

Monmouth Roseville  Chapter

Nauvoo-Colusa

Paris

Payson

Pittsfield

Pleasant Hill

Pleasant Plains

Quincy

RTHS

Rushville-Industry

Silex

Southeastern

Southwestern High School

St. Isidore

Taylorville

Tri-City

Triopia

Troy   Chapter (Missouri)

Unity

Warsaw

Washington County 4-H

West Prairie

Western

Williamsville

Winchester

John Wood Community College is the educational link between business and community. JWCC collaboratively creates innovative and relevant academic and training programs with business leaders to educate young people and the workforce for today's needs and tomorrow's opportunities. JWCC has centers in Quincy, Pittsfield, Baylis and Mt. Sterling, Illinois. Programs include a comprehensive baccalaureate transfer curriculum, customized business training, career/technical degrees, certificates, and personal enrichment courses.