What These Contests Are
Two contests share one Saturday morning at the Illinois State Fair. The Illinois 4-H State Dairy Cattle Judging Contest ranks classes of dairy animals and picks the team that represents Illinois at the national contest in Madison, Wisconsin. The Superior Young Dairy Producer Award (SYDPA) adds a written management test and a hands-on skillathon to judging, and pays scholarships to the top three. The most recent contests were Saturday, August 22, 2026, at the Livestock Center (open show ring), Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield. The purpose is youth development, career development and personal growth through knowledge of the dairy industry. SYDPA has run for 31 consecutive years and has given $135,000 in college scholarships to Illinois dairy youth.
Who Can Enter
- Both contests are open to all youth, including non-4-H members and all ages. No preregistration is required, and you do not have to exhibit at the State Fair or have a dairy project.
- County entry is unlimited. A small group of first-time contestants and contestants under age 10 get extra help from the coordinator.
- Judging has a Junior division (age 13 or younger as of January 1, 2026) and a Senior division (age 14 or older).
- To make the Illinois 4-H Judging Team, you must be a current Illinois 4-H member with enrollment on file at your Extension office, age 14 to 18 as of January 1, 2026.
- To win the SYDPA scholarship, you must be an Illinois 4-H member, a current dairy project member in a local club, and at least 14 as of January 1, 2026.
How It Works: Saturday Schedule
- 7:30 to 8:00 a.m.Walk-up registration and check-in at the Livestock Center.
- 8:00 a.m.: Dairy judgingSix classes of cows and heifers from several dairy breeds. Contestants have 10 minutes per class without reasons and 20 minutes per reasons class.
- 10:00 a.m.: Management test (SYDPA)A written test on dairy management and related facts.
- 10:30 a.m.: Skillathon (SYDPA)Three stations: DHI 202 report, pedigree analysis and dairy equipment identification.
- AfternoonSYDPA overall winners are announced.
Reasons
Reasons are optional for Juniors: one set on one cow class, given orally or in writing, and read or recited. Senior team candidates must give two sets of oral reasons on cow classes, with two minutes per class to the official judge. Everyone may give oral reasons after the contest. Oral reasons are not scored in the SYDPA version of judging.
Awards and What You Get
- Judging: individual blue, red and white ribbons. Contestants are ranked in three groups, and team scores are not counted. Summary results go to your county Extension office within five working days, and detailed results and ribbons are mailed within two weeks.
- State team: the 2026 Illinois 4-H Dairy Judging Team was selected from this contest to compete at the National Contest in Madison, Wisconsin.
- SYDPA: the top three overall (Illinois 4-H members) each win a $1,000 scholarship and a plaque, sponsored by Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. The top three in each phase win a plaque, and all participants are recognized.
- The Land of Lincoln Purebred Livestock Breeders Association and the Illinois State Fair sponsor banners for top finishers, and Illinois Farm Bureau provides banners to the top ten juniors and top ten seniors in judging.
Scale
In 2026, 41 youth competed in the judging contest and 14 4-H dairy members took part in SYDPA. Dale Worley of Boone County won the overall title, followed by Kasey Clanton of Bond County and Emma Meyer of Madison County.
Where
Livestock Center (open show ring), Illinois State Fairgrounds, N 8th St and Central Ave, Springfield, IL 62702. Registration is at the Livestock Center the morning of the contest.
Questions
Do I need to sign up ahead?
No. Register on the day, from 7:30 a.m.
I am not in 4-H. Can I compete?
Yes, but only current Illinois 4-H members are eligible for the state team and the SYDPA scholarship.
Do I need to enter SYDPA to judge?
No. Judging is a standalone contest.
Who do I contact?
The contests are run by Derek Nolan, Illinois Extension's 4-H dairy program coordinator. Reach him through your local Extension office, or the Illinois Extension office at 101 Mumford Hall, 1301 W. Gregory Dr., Urbana, IL 61801.
Official Links
- 2026 dairy judging and SYDP contests: event page
- 2026 Dairy Contest rules: judging divisions, reasons, awards
- 2026 Superior Young Producer Dairy rules: phases, scholarships
- 2026 results release: winners and history
University of Illinois Extension: The Essentials
University of Illinois Extension serves all 102 Illinois counties through 27 multi-county units, plus four research and field facilities, per its Where We Serve page.
Find your office
Units are named for the counties they cover, such as Champaign, Ford, Iroquois and Vermilion, and each links to its own site for staff and hours.
4-H
Local rules differ. LaSalle County uses ages 8 to 18 as of September 1 of the previous year, with Cloverbuds at 5 to 7, per its fair book. Lake County requires YQCA training by June 1 for beef, dairy, goat, sheep and swine, per its livestock page.
State events
The Illinois 4-H General Project Show runs August 14 to 16, 2026 in Springfield, per the event page.
Beyond 4-H
Extension also answers questions on crops, beef, soil, trees, insects and gardens, and lists eight priorities from Food and Agriculture to Workforce Excellence.
Next steps
Open your unit's site, ask about clubs and enrollment dates, and get your county fair book.
Each unit sets its own deadlines, so confirm locally.
Read the full guide: University of Illinois Extension: Offices, 4-H and Help for Producers
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The Illinois Beef Expo fills the Illinois State Fairgrounds with a junior show, livestock judging, a beef skill-a-thon, a cattle fitting contest and three live cattle sales. Held each year; most recent dates were February 19-22, 2026.
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