STATE CONTACT
Dr. Benjy Mikel
907 W.P.Garrigus Bldg
(859) 257-7550, Fax (859)257-5318
E-mail:wmikel@uky.edu

PURPOSE

The purpose of the 4-H meat judging and identification activity is to provide an opportunity for young people to learn about meat and such things as: why is one carcass better than another? Which steak or chop is best? How to recognize cuts of meat and know from what part of the carcass they are cut, and what cuts are best for which purpose. Knowledge of this nature will be useful to those with livestock projects and to those who just want to be better informed meat buyers and consumers.

REGIONAL SKILLATHON CONTESTS
The dates for the 2004 Western and Eastern Regional 4-H Skillathon Contests have been set. As you will see, these events are earlier in the year than they have been in the past. The specific dates and locations for these contests are as follows:

Western Regional 4-H Skillathon Contest
Saturday, March 6, 2004
Research & Education Center (Princeton)

Eastern Regional 4-H Skillathon Contest
Monday, March 15, 2004
E.S. Goodbarn (Lexington)

For both contests a tentative schedule of events is as follows:

9:00-9:30 a.m. - Registration
9:30-11:30 a.m. - Contest
11:30-12:00 noon - Lunch
12:00-2:00 p.m. - Meats Workshop
2:00-3:00 p.m. - Awards Presentations
3:00 p.m. - Depart for home

Part of the reason for holding these contests earlier in the year is to use a portion of the time to provide some training in the meats area prior to the State 4-H Meats Judging Contest (see below). Dr. Benjy Mikel, Extension Meats Specialist, will be conducting the meats workshop, and will cover the topics of retail meat cut identification and meats judging. This should serve as an excellent learning opportunity for 4-Hers that will be participating in the State 4-H Meats Judging Contest.

STATE MEATS JUDGING CONTEST
2004 State Fair Meats Judging will be held April 19, 2004. Contact Dr. Mikel by April 1, 2004 if your county wants to participate. Visit the 4-H Web Page, under St. Fair Catalog, Meats/Ham Judging

STATE FAIR HAM JUDGING CONTEST
Ham Judging will be held at the State Fair in Cloverville on the first Thursday of the Fair.
For more information, visit the 4-H Web Page, under St. Fair Catalog, Meats/Ham Judging

Both a Junior and Senior Division contest is held.

Last Revised: 11/18/03
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