The Modesto Junior College (MJC) Dairy Science Program is excited to host the Dairy Cattle Judging contest for all California 4-H members in conjunction with our FFA Field Day. The contest is open to all California 4-H members and will be an individual contest with no 4-H team placing.
This is our second year hosting the state 4-H qualifying contest. Youth in the Senior 4-H Division compete to qualify to represent California 4-H at the World Dairy Expo National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging contest in Madison, Wisconsin (October 2026). This is not a team competition so youth placing in the top 4 will qualify to represent California 4-H at the national contest.
DATE: Saturday, March 14
LOCATION and DETAILS:
- MJC ACE Pavilion Annex (north side) on West Campus.
- Dress warm. No 4-H uniforms.
- Youth should bring a large clipboard for their judging card Scantron sheet and a pencil.
- 6 Classes to judge (3 heifer classes, 3 cow classes)
DIVISIONS:
- Novice (any age) - Members new to judging regardless of age. No reasons, just written exam on PDCA scorecard, body parts of a cow and information from Holstein Foundation Dairy Judging Workbook.
- Junior Division (9-13 years old) - Written exam on Holstein Foundation Judging Workbook & 1 set of Reasons (may read notes)
- Senior Division* (14 -18 years old) - Written exam on Holstein Foundation Judging Workbook & 2 Sets of Oral Reasons (may read notes). *Eligible for National 4-H Contest
HOW TO ENTER: To enter, please contact your local county 4-H office and kindly ask them to register your 4-H member to participate. Only the county 4-H office has access to register youth through the Judging Card system.
COST TO ENTER: $15 per registrant
REGISTRATION: Closes on March 7
SCHEDULE
- 7:15am - Check-in Open
- 7:50am - Contest Instructions
- 8:00am - Contest Start
- 12:00pm - 4-H Awards
An email with more details will be sent out on March 12. Contact Nicole Morris (morrisn@mjc.edu) if you have any questions.