Content by Kelsey Vander Wal

Youth stand around four sheep in a small pen

Creative 4-H communities help youth experience joy of raising livestock

August 31, 2026

As populations drift off farms and into towns, some South Dakota communities have created unique opportunities for non-farm youth to experience the joy and responsibility of raising large animals.

Youth judging swing during the State 4-H Livestock Judging contest

State 4-H Livestock Judging and Skill-A-Thon

SDSU Extension 4-H will host the State 4-H Livestock Judging and Skill-A-Thon competitions in June during the South Dakota 4-H Clover Classic at the SDSU Animal Science Arena in Brookings, South Dakota.