Sevier 4-H Meats Judging Teams Do Well In Competition

The Sevier County 4-H Meats Judging Team Members recently brought home honors in the Eastern Regional 4-H Meats Judging Team Competition held at Berean Christian School in Knoxville, Tn. The Eastern Region 4-H Judging Events are sponsored by and held in conjunction with the Tennessee Valley Fair each fall.

Sevier County was represented by three Junior High teams that placed first, third and fourth in the contest. The first place team included Lexi Moreno, Catherine Cummings, Brennan Allen and Kali Davis, all from Sevierville Middle School. The third place team included Alexis Dombrowski, Northview Intermediate; Olivia Browning, Homeschool; Ann Pendleton, Boyds Creek Elementary and Luke Pendleton, Seymour High School. The fourth place team included Sierra Vess, Catons chapel; Tristen Lewis, Pigeon Forge Middle; Cordell Rivera, Sevierville Middle and Anthony Flores, Homeschool. Victoria Alexander, Sevier County High also participated as an individual.

As individuals, Lexi Moreno placed first, Catherine Cummings placed second, Brennan Allen placed third, Kali Davis placed sixth, Victoria Alexander placed eighth, and Alexis Dombrowski placed ninth overall.

In the Senior High contest, Sevier County placed fourth and qualified for the State Contest to be held in June at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Team members included Victoria Clements and Trenton Dombrowski, Sevier County High School; Christy Newsom and Stephanie Hanson, Pigeon Forge High School. Victoria placed eighth overall as an individual.

Thanks to Mrs. Jeri Haun, from the Rel Maples Institute of Culinary Arts at Walters State Community College for coaching the team.  Thanks also to Kroger’s in Sevierville for providing meat samples to judge during practice.

In meats judging, 4-H members learn to identify wholesale and retail cuts of meat from beef, lamb and pork carcasses.  They learn to identify quality grades of meat and proper cooking methods.  In judging classes, 4-H members learn to evaluate meat cuts on the amount of muscling, trimness and quality with each cut.  4-H judging events give young people the opportunity to develop decision making skills that are useful throughout life.

If you need more information about 4-H, contact Glenn K Turner at 453-3695 or like us on Facebook at UT Extension Sevier County.

The University of Tennessee Extension offers educational opportunities like these to anyone in Sevier County regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion or veteran status and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Sevier County 4-H Meats Judging Team Members

Front row left to right- Christy Newsom, Sierra Vess, Kali Davis, Lexi Moreno, Alexis Dombrowski, Luke Pendleton, Brennan Allen, Trenton Dombrowski, Stephanie Hanson, Olivia Browning, Anthony Flores.

Back row- Victoria alexander, Catherine Cummings, Anna Pendleton, Coach Jeri Haun, Tristin Lewis, Cordell Rivera and Victoria Clements.