SUPERIOR YOUNG PRODUCER AWARDS
BEEF - DAIRY - HORSES - SHEEP – SWINE
ENTRIES ARE REQUESTED PRIOR TO THE STATE FAIR JUNIOR SHOWS
Purpose: To create an educational activity at the Illinois State Fair which promotes youth
development and personal growth through increased knowledge of the livestock industry
and career development.
Objective: To provide youth with livestock projects a practical experience that will develop
their life skills, problem solving abilities and communication techniques. It will also provide
an opportunity to win one of twenty-fi ve college scholarship that will be awarded annually.
General Guidelines
1. The Superior Young Producer Award (SYPA) contest will be open to any youth 14 years
of age or older and who are a current bonafi de IL 4-H or IL FFA member conducting
project work in the species area for which he/she is entering the SYPA competition. The
4-H age is determined as of September 1, 2013. FFA member eligibility is up to and
including the summer immediately following graduation from High School.
2. Participants do not have to be exhibiting animals at the Illinois State Fair in order to
participate in the SYPA contest.
3. The SYPA contest will be held during the Illinois State Fair, Springfield, IL.
4. The contest will consist of the three following phases: skillathon, management test, and
judging and/or meats ID. The phases for each species will be as follows:
Beef - Skillathon, management test, and judging
Dairy - Skillathon, management test, and judging
Horses - Skillathon, management test, and judging
Sheep - Skillathon, management test, and meats test and ID.
Swine - Skillathon, management test, and meat ID/judging/quality assurance
Rules and Regulations
1. ENTRIES ARE REQUIRED PRIOR TO THE STATE FAIR JUNIOR SHOWS.
2. Exhibitor may only receive a scholarship one time throughout his/her 4-H/FFA eligible
years.
3. Upon receiving a scholarship in any of the specie award areas, the eligible 4-H and FFA
members may participate in other specie award programs in following years but will be
eligible to receive phase awards only.
4. In order to receive the scholarship, student must pursue studies at an accredited two or
four year college, university, certified post secondary trade school or advanced
educational program.
6. Scholarship monies are paid directly by the Illinois 4-H Foundation to the institution
where the student is enrolled. No interest will be earned on scholarship monies.
7. Any unused scholarship money remains in the Superior Young Producer Award
Endowment Fund for future recipients after a student has reached her/his
twenty-fourth birthday as of January 1st.
CONTEST FORMAT
Skillathon: This will involve a series of learning stations with specific tasks and questions
for participants to answer. Participants will rotate from station to station to test their
knowledge and abilities in a learn-by-doing atmosphere.
Management Test: A 50 question written test will be given to each participant. Questions
will relate to all aspects of management and will challenge their knowledge and recall of
related facts.
Live Animal Judging or Meats ID: Two-six classes, of four animals each, will be placed
by the participants based on type, conformation and in some cases production information.
Participants will be scored on their ability to select quality livestock for the modern
production system. In Beef area, 2 classes of live animals will be placed with questions. In
the swine and sheep contests, retail cuts of meat will be ID and evaluated.
AWARDS
* A maximum of five individual winners of the overall Superior Young Producer Award will
be selected in each of the following species: beef, dairy, horses, sheep and swine. Each
winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship and plaque.
* A plaque will be presented to each of the “top three” phase winners in the individual
phase competitions.
* The overall winners will be announced and recognized at an appropriate time during the
Illinois State Fair.
SCHEDULE:
HORSES
Thursday, July 24, 6:00 pm - Livestock Center – Show Ring
BEEF
Wednesday, August 6, 6:00 pm - Livestock Center - Show Ring
SWINE
Wednesday, August 6, 6:00 pm – Livestock Center - Show Ring
SHEEP
Thursday, August 7, 4:00 pm – South Show Ring, Open Sheep Barn
DAIRY
Saturday, August 16, 8:30 am – Livestock Center – Show Ring
THE OVERALL SUPERIOR YOUNG PRODUCER AWARD PLAQUES A
RE SPONSORED BY THE LAND OF LINCOLN PUREBRED LIVESTOCK BREEDERS
ASSOCIATION AND THE ILLINOIS STATE FAIR.
SUPERIOR YOUNG PRODUCER AWARD ENTRY FORM
NAME: ____________________________________________________________
ADDRESS: _________________________________________________________
CITY: ___________________________ ZIP CODE: ______ County: ___________
TELEPHONE #: _______________________ E-MAIL: ______________________
AGE (AS OF 9-1-12) ____________________ BIRTH DATE:__________________
Have you won SYPA $1000 scholarship in the past? _____No; _____Yes.
If yes, which species: _______________________.
I certify that I am a current 4-H/FFA member in the species project area listed
below.
Signed: ______________________________________ Date: ________________
4-H/FFA member
PLEASE MARK (ONE) THE SPECIES THAT YOU ARE ENTERING. SEND THIS FORM
TO THE COORDINATOR LISTED BELOW, BY THE SPECIES SELECTED.
ENTRIES ARE REQUESTED PRIOR TO THE 2014 STATE FAIR JUNIOR SHOWS.
_______ BEEF -- Teresa Steckler, U of I Beef Specialist, Jefferson County Unit, 4618
Broadway, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864
_______ DAIRY-- Dave Fischer, 901 Oak Hill St., Trenton, IL 62993; 618/224-7951
_______ HORSE-- Debra Hagstrom, U of I Extension Horse Specialist,
386 Animal Science Lab, 1207 W. Gregory Dr., Urbana, IL 62801;
217/333-1785; hagstrom@illinois.edu
_______ SHEEP-- Dick Cobb, U of I Extension Sheep Specialist, 132 Animal Science Lab,
1207 W. Gregory Dr., Urbana, IL 61801
_______ SWINE-- Dan Jennings, U of I State Livestock Specialist 4-H, 801 N. County Fair
Dr., Suite E, Champaign, IL 61821, 815/218-4358; djjennin@illinois.edu
(Dean Oswald, U of I Extension Educator, co-coordinated)