South Central Texas 4-H teams win state hay judging contest

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

The Bastrop County 4-H team claimed the second place honor following competition of the State 4-H Hay Judging Contest. Team member Joe Rathmann (left) edged out the High Point Individual title from a member of the first place team. Pictured, from left, are Rathmann, Jennifer Henderson, Natalie Meuth, Jerry Dean Shimek and Derean Churchill, alt. The team was coached by the county's Extension Agent Maron Finley, who credited Charles Stichler and Rachel Bauer for their coaching assistance.

January 16, 2003 -- At the State 4-H Hay Judging Contest held in early December in Fredericksburg, Joe Rathmann of Bastrop County scored a 371 to squeek past Melissa Stewart of Waller County, by one point, to earn the High Point Individual at the show.

The 4-H'ers competing in the judging contest "tests and evaluates the quality of forages from maturity, color, leafiness and foreign matter, by utilizing their senses of smell, feeling and sight," according to David E. McGregor Sr., Waller County Extension agent.

Several teams, including both 4-H and FFA from various Texas counties and schools, competed at the annual judging event that's held in conjunction with the Texas State Hay Show.

Two 4-H teams within the South Central Texas region gained the top placings.

Waller County 4-H Team No. 1 placed first with a team score of 962. Team members included Timmy Necker, Regina Shelton, Delia Shelton, and Elspeth Bacher. They earned the top placing by a margin of seven points.

The second place 4-H team was from Bastrop County, coached by County Extension Agent Maron Finley. This team included Joe Rathmann, Jennifer Henderson, Natalie Meuth, Jerry Dean Shimek and Derean Churchill, alternate.

Finley credited Charles Stichler, Extension agronomist from TAMU-Uvalde, and Rachel Bauer, Hays County Extension Agent, formally of Bastrop, for assisting in training the team from Bastrop County.