EVENT DETAILS
When:
Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026
Register Now
Registration closes Nov. 2 at noon.
Check in:
Team check-in 8:30-9:30 a.m.. The contest begins at 10 a.m.
Where:
Iowa State Fairgrounds, Pioneer Livestock Pavilion
Details:
This contest is meant to be a team event, and students are encouraged to be on teams. A team will consist of 4 students, with 3 of the scores counting toward the team total. Teams of 3 will be allowed if a team of 4 cannot be formed. If a team of 3 cannot be formed, individuals will be accepted.
The contest will have junior and senior divisions, with juniors being any students who are not yet in high school. If a senior individual is a part of a team, the team is automatically considered a senior team. For the senior division, the top 3 teams will be awarded scholarship money as well as up to 3 individuals placing in the top 5 who were not also on a top 3 senior team.
Parking:
Buses, vans, and cars will be able to park on the west side of Pioneer Livestock Pavilion on Rock Island Avenue on the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
What to Expect:
- Carcass Fabrication Demonstration: Students will watch a fabrication demonstration of a hog carcass to see the different cuts of a hog and where our favorite pork products come from – sponsored by Smithfield Foods.
- Keep/Cull Gilt Class: The keep/cull class will challenge the students to evaluate 8 pigs based on breeding characteristics of a good female. They will be asked to select 4 gilts they would like to keep and put back into the breeding herd.
- Live Carcass Evaluation: The carcass evaluation class asks students to answer a set of multiple-choice questions based on carcass traits of live hogs such as weight, loin eye size, back fat.
- Market Hog Class and Commercial Gilt Class: The last two hog evaluation classes will fit more of what the students are accustomed to when it comes to livestock judging contest. Each will have a total of four live animals, and students will be asked to rank them from best to worst.
- Iowa Pork Industry/Meat Quality Exam: Students will be asked multiple-choice questions which will focus on Iowa’s pork industry, meat quality and characteristics, and general farm practices.
For more information, contact Brielle Smeby at (800) 372-7675 or bsmeby@iowapork.org.
Thank you to our 2025 Judging Contest sponsors for their continued support!
2025 RESULTS
Senior Division Team Results
Senior Division Individual Results
Junior Division Team Results
Junior Division Individual Results
2025 Iowa Pork Youth Judging Contest Officials
