Cooperative Extension Service Communications and Technology Department 3354 1000 E. University Ave. Laramie, WY 82071 (307) 766-2540 • fax (307) 766-3998 • www.uwyo.edu

 

For Immediate Release

 

Contact: Robert Waggener, Editor

Phone: (307) 766-3571

E-mail: robertw@uwyo.edu

 

Date: June 14, 2006

 

Campbell County 4-H wool judging team competes June 15 at nationals

            Four Campbell County 4-H members compete tomorrow (June 15) in the 46th National 4-H Wool Judging Contest in Sonora, Texas.

            Kimberly Bell, Heidi Saur and Krista Lahr, all of Gillette, and Clay Jackson of Rozet qualified for the national meet by winning the senior team division of the Wyoming 4-H Wool Judging Contest June 2-3 in Casper.

            The team is coached by 4-H volunteer leader Russell Bell of Gillette. 4-H is the youth arm of the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service, and its state offices are in the UW College of Agriculture.

            Rindy West, 4-H and youth program associate for Campbell County, said, “The team members have worked and trained hard, and they deserved to go on this rewarding trip.”

            She said the last time a Campbell County team won the senior team competition was 1989.

            The Crook County senior team placed second at state while the Laramie County team was third. Seniors are ages 14 to 18.

            Niobrara County’s junior team won its respective division at the state meet. Its members included Chrisanna Lund, Trenton Johnson, Chelsea Baars and Drew Hester.

            The Campbell County junior team placed second, and Goshen County finished third.

            Individual champions were Kimberly Bell, senior; Chrisanna Lund, intermediate; and Chelsea Baars, junior.

            Intermediates (ages 11 to 13) and juniors (8 to 10) compete together in the team competition.

            Steve Schafer, a state 4-H youth development specialist in the UW College of Agriculture, said several wool qualities are important in judging. They include the diameter of the fiber (the smaller the diameter, the finer the wool), the crimp of the fiber (this refers to waviness), and the length of the fiber.

###