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Livestock competitions leading to career path

The champion of the 2025 Illinois Beef Expo Livestock Judging Competition in the Senior 4-H Division says becoming a proficient judge takes a lot of hard work.

DeWitt County’s Paisley Schick says she and her two sisters practice the craft twice a week and compete across the country.

“It’s really just a competitive thing for me, honestly.”  She says, “Me and my sisters push each other a lot. Me and my sisters, and another girl on our FFA team, traveled to Massachusetts to the Big E in September and we won that.  We were really excited about that.”

The Clinton High School sophomore tells Brownfield she tries to have an eye for details in the ring.

“There are four cattle in each class, and you place them from best to worst.”  She says, “A lot of it is structure.  How well their feet and legs work together, kind of just how well they move around the ring.  Then the questions are just really any questions that can be about the cattle.”

Schick says her goal is to earn a spot on a collegiate livestock judging team and then pursue a career where she can continue working with cattle.

AUDIO: Paisley Schick