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March 29, 2024 11:05 am

Invitational Youth Livestock Judging event hosted by UMO

The University of Mount Olive recently hosted an Invitational Youth Livestock Judging event at the Wayne County Fairgrounds.

MOUNT OLIVE – The University of Mount Olive recently 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 and 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.

“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,” said Emma Raynor of South Lenoir High School, high scoring individual in the FFA Division.

“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,” said Cole Watkins, advisor, Orange High School.

— From University of Mount Olive Public Relations