Area Animal Science Days

Regional animal science educational opportunities are available to Wisconsin 4-H members.  Specifically, Area Animal Science Days is a series of day-long events held around the state in June where youth in the beef, dairy, horse, sheep, and swine projects increase their decision-making skills and knowledge of animals through judging and grading experiences.  Events include dairy cattle evaluation; livestock (beef, sheep, swine, & meat goats) evaluation; oral reasons contests for senior members; and dairy showmanship contests .  In addition, each site may offer a variety of workshops like poster and photography contests or horse judging activities.

Philosophy & Purpose:

AASD Strives:

  • To increase availability of educational opportunities in the 4-H Animal Science Projects
  • To increase decision-making skills through judging and grading experiences
  • To increase the knowledge of animals through breeding and market evaluation and management information

General Procedures (please see registration guide for full rules, eligibility guidelines, contest information, and registration information:

  1.  Area Animal Science Days were started with the intention of giving as many young people as possible an opportunity to learn more about livestock and dairy evaluation. Area Animal Science Days evolved to broaden the scope of members enrolled in the 4-H Animal Science Projects.
  2. These events are focused on the learning experience rather than the contest.
  3. Area Animal Science Days contests are open to currently enrolled 4-H members
  4. Activities and offerings may vary at each area site depending on the host county facilities and resources
  5. Age Divisions:
    • Junior – Age 8-13 as of January 1, 2023; Youth must be in or completed 3rd grade, 8 year old Cloverbuds cannot participate.
    • Senior – Age 14-18 as of January 1, 2023
    • Grade 13 members: WI 4-H members that are in the 13th grade and have reached their 19th birthday prior to January 1, 2023 are eligible to compete at the AASD contests and state contest as individuals but not as a member of a team.
    • Please note, grade 13 members (regardless of age), are not eligible to participate in national contests that occur after September 30th of the year
  6. We value inclusion and access for all participants. We are happy to provide accommodations for full participation in this event. Please contact Jill Jorgensen at (920)391-4659 or jill.jorgensen@wisc.edu by the registration deadline if you need an accommodation due to disability or a health condition.

Note: We highly encourage and expect livestock leaders and professionals will arrange for judging meetings prior to Area Animal Science Days.  In those counties which eventually send teams to the State contests, there are many opportunities for judging workouts following Area Animal Science Days.  We urge counties to involve as many young people as possible in this activity both prior to and during Area Animal Science Days.

AASD 2023 Information

2023 Results

Registration

2023 AASD Registration and Information Booklet

To be eligible for Area Animal Science Days, team pre-registration must be submitted by online form at: https://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_exty2hzkrvm5vn0 by May 25th, 2023 .  In addition, the individual participants must be a member of a WI 4-H and must be within the division age limits listed above.

Registration fees will be $12.00 per participant and will need to be paid by check on the day of the event.

The host counties will be providing lunch on the day of the event for a cost of $10 per person.  All participants, coaches, parents, etc. who plan to eat will need to pre-register for lunch on the registration form.

More information on where to send payments is located in the Registration Guide listed below.  No refunds will be given if the participant has paid and can’t make the event. All participants will need to pay the registration fee.  Contact the State 4-H office for needs-based scholarship options.

Contact the State 4-H Office with any questions: jill.jorgensen@wisc.edu or (920)391-4659

Wood County – June 9th

Time: Registration begins at 8:00 AM
Location: Wood County Fairgrounds 513 E 17th St, Marshfield, WI 54449
Events Offered: Dairy Judging, Dairy Showmanship (no charge), Livestock Judging, All Species Photo and Poster Contest (no charge)

Tentative Schedule

Contests will begin promptly at 9:00 AM.

8:00 – 9:00 am     Registration
Dairy Poster Contest Drop-off
All Species Poster and Photography Drop-off (Wood and Barron Counties Only)

9:00 am    Orientation in respective areas
Dairy Showmanship Contestants Report

9:15 am    
Dairy Showmanship Contest Begins
Dairy Judging Begins
Livestock Judging Begin

11:30 am    Lunch

1:00 pm     Oral Reasons – Senior Dairy & Livestock Judges

2:30 pm     Poster Pick-up

Awards will be presented in judging areas as soon as they are available

Results will be posted online

Iowa County, June 16th

Time: Registration begins at 8:00 AM
Location: Iowa County Fairgrounds, 915-841 Fair St, Mineral Point, WI, 53565

Events Offered: Dairy Judging and Dairy Showmanship Only

Tentative Schedule

Contests will begin promptly at 9:00 AM.

8:00 – 9:00 am     Registration

9:00 am    Orientation in respective areas
Dairy Showmanship Contestants Report

9:15 am     Dairy Showmanship Contest Begins
Dairy Judging Begins

11:30 am   Lunch

1:00 pm     Oral Reasons – Senior Dairy Judges

Awards will be presented in judging areas as soon as they are available

Results will be posted online

Crawford County, June 26th

Time: Registration begins at 8:00 AM
Location: Crawford County Fairgrounds: 17725 State Highway 131, Gays Mills, WI 54631

Events Offered: Livestock Judging Only

Tentative Schedule

Contests will begin promptly at 9:00 AM.

8:00 – 9:00 am     Registration

9:00 am    Orientation in respective areas

9:15 am    
Livestock Judging Begins

11:30 am   Lunch

1:00 pm     Oral Reasons – Senior Livestock Judges

Awards will be presented in judging areas as soon as they are available

Results will be posted online

Barron County – June 28th

Time: Registration begins at 8:00am
Location:  Barron County Fairgrounds, 101 Short St, Rice Lake, WI 54868

Events Offered: Dairy Judging, Dairy Showmanship (no charge), Livestock Judging, Horse Judging Clinic/Contest, All Species Photo and Poster Contest (no charge)

Tentative Schedule

Contests will begin promptly at 9:00 AM.

8:00 – 9:00 am     Registration
Dairy Poster Contest Drop-off

9:00 am    Orientation in respective areas
Dairy Showmanship Contestants Report

9:15 am    
Dairy Showmanship Contest Begins
Dairy Judging Begins
Livestock Judging Begins
Horse Judging Clinic Begins (Contest to follow)

11:30 am   Lunch

1:00 pm     Oral Reasons – Senior Dairy & Livestock Judges

2:30 pm     Poster  Pick-up

Awards will be presented in judging areas as soon as they are available

Results will be posted online

2022 Results

State Scholarships

Needs-based scholarships are available for youth who participate in Statewide Educational Experiences. Scholarships require an application that is submitted to the state office. For more information on these scholarships and to apply, please visit the Scholarship page on our website.

Practice & Coaching Resources

Contest Rules

2022 AASD Registration and Information Booklet

Dairy Showmanship Scorecard

Dairy Poster Scorecard

Online Judging Practice Resources

Hoards Dairy Judging 101

Wisconsin 4-H Dairy Judging Resources

Wisconsin 4-H Livestock Program Judging Resources

Sample Scantrons

Dairy Cattle Judging Scantron

Livestock Judging Scantron

Thank you to the sponsors who help make AASDs possible!

  • This program is supported by the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation.  For more information please go to www.Wis4HFoundation.org.
  • UW-Madison Division of Extension
  • UW-Madison Animal Science Department
  • UW-Madison Dairy Science Department
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