Future ag producers develop skill through 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl

The Lincoln County 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl team may be young, but these kids know a thing or two about animal husbandry. All four team members are 10 years old or younger and involved on their families’ farms or ranches in the North Platte area.

Team members include Caleb Allison, Kasen Cole, Cole Steffes and Westyn Wasserburger.

Being part of the 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl team is reinforcing real-life lessons to strengthen their understanding of livestock production to become advocates for the industry.

“Livestock Quiz Bowl encourages youth to actually learn about agriculture. They are learning the ‘why’ behind what they are doing for animal management,” said Caitlyn Jacobson, 4-H youth development extension educator for Lincoln, Logan and McPherson Counties.

The event is making a comeback in Lincoln County after many years without a team. Jacobson participated on the Lincoln County 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl team when she was a 4-H member in Lincoln County, but interest ceased sometime between when she aged out of 4-H about 15 years ago and when she took the position as extension educator in 2022. She is excited to be coaching the new team.

The group had a good experience when competing at the Dawson County Livestock Quiz Bowl competition May 30.

“The team of Caleb, Kasen, Cole and Westyn are forerunners in starting quiz bowl again,” said Jacobson.

Beginning in January, the team met biweekly to study every aspect of beef, swine, sheep and goats. They focused on one species before moving on to the next, learning about different breeds, digestive systems, potential structural deficiencies, nutrition, diseases, animal handling and tools used.

As Cole said, “We learned a lot about a lot of stuff.”

Livestock Quiz Bowl was Cole’s introduction into his first year of 4-H, but he is well-versed in agriculture. He helps his parents, Greg and Bree Steffes, on their operation raising cattle, corn, soybeans and alfalfa.