UMO Hosts Invitational Youth Livestock Judging Event
October 31, 2022
Contact: Rhonda Jessup
MOUNT OLIVE – The University of Mount Olive hosted an Invitational Youth Livestock Judging event at the Wayne County Fairgrounds. This event was sponsored by the University of Mount Olive School of Agriculture & Biological Sciences and Prestage Farms. The event was open to both FFA and 4-H youth with an interest in showing livestock.
Participants were scored on how well they applied livestock evaluation skills learned through working with their FFA or 4-H advisors in their respective youth organizations. Each team evaluated eight classes of animals including one class each of breeding cattle, market cattle, breeding sheep, market sheep or lambs, market goats, breeding goats, market swine, and breeding swine. Participants also defended the reasoning behind their evaluations to a panel of experienced judges and were required to complete a written test. Successful completion of these activities required a thorough understanding of both animal science and herd management skills. The following participants and advisors shared their thoughts on the event:
“I would like to thank the University of Mount Olive for hosting the event and all the breeders who donated their livestock for the contest. I would like to thank my coaches and my advisors. It is such an honor to be the first high scoring FFA individual at this contest.” –Emma Raynor, High Scoring Individual, FFA Division. South Lenoir High School.
“My students found this event extremely beneficial. Not only did they get extra practice seeing livestock and giving reasons, they learned new things listening to the judges give critiques.” –Cole Watkins, Advisor, Orange High School.
Students who participated in the Invitational Youth Livestock Judging Event will use learned skills in the state FFA Livestock Judging Career Development Event to be held in November 2022 or at 4H Congress in June 2023.
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University is sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. For more information, visit www.umo.edu.
