HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 268 Offered January 22, 2008 Commending Augusta and Rockbridge Counties 4-H livestock judging team. ---------- Patrons-- Landes, Cline and Saxman ----------

WHEREAS, the outstanding Augusta and Rockbridge Counties 4-H livestock judging team won the first-place award at the 2007 National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest held November 13–15 in Louisville, Kentucky; and

WHEREAS, the national win by the Augusta and Rockbridge Counties team is the first time since 1983 that Virginia has claimed a 4-H livestock team judging championship; and

WHEREAS, local students from Augusta and Rockbridge counties won the prestigious first-place honor by excelling over the top student teams in the country in a contest judged by a panel of the nation's top livestock judges; and

WHEREAS, Augusta and Rockbridge Counties 4-H livestock judging team members are seniors Brandon Reeves of Buffalo Gap High School and Stephanie Willis of Fort Defiance High School, and juniors Kaitlyn Meadows of James River High School and Luke Strecker of Rockbridge County High School; and

WHEREAS, the four exemplary students all come from longtime agricultural families and most grew up participating in the 4-H program, utilizing the skills and experience they learned while working on the family farm; and

WHEREAS, Augusta and Rockbridge Counties 4-H livestock judging team members were chosen for the competition from among Virginia's best high school livestock judges by Coach Mark Wahlberg, who is an associate professor of animal science at Virginia Tech; and

WHEREAS, the National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest is a demanding competition that evaluates students' ability to judge classes of cattle, sheep, and hogs; categorize the quality of groups of each animal for breeding and raising purposes; and defend their choices before a panel of expert judges; and

WHEREAS, the triumphant performance of the 2007 Augusta and Rockbridge Counties 4-H livestock judging team is a tribute to the dedication and teamwork of its talented members; the leadership and mentoring of coaches Shirley Kaufman of Augusta County and Katherine Meadows of Rockbridge County; and the outstanding support of parents, teachers, and the community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend and congratulate Augusta and Rockbridge Counties 4-H livestock judging team on its championship win at the 2007 National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Augusta and Rockbridge Counties 4-H livestock judging team as an expression of the General Assembly’s appreciation of all of the team members' commitment to agricultural science and animal husbandry in the Commonwealth.