By Andi Anderson
High school students from more than 30 schools across Illinois and Missouri showcased their agricultural skills during the 21st annual Livestock Judging Invitational, hosted by the John Wood Community College (JWCC) Ag Alumni Association.
The event took place on September 20 at JWCC’s Agricultural Education Center near Baylis, a facility shared with the University of Illinois.
Sponsored by ADM Alliance Nutrition and Moorman’s ShowTec, the event brought together aspiring agriculturalists for a day of skill-building and competition.
Livestock judging is a crucial aspect of agricultural education, helping students sharpen their decision-making abilities, improve observation skills, and apply scientific principles related to animal growth and development.
Throughout the competition, participants evaluated seven classes of livestock, including cattle, swine, sheep, and goats. They ranked animals based on specific criteria and compared them to industry standards, as determined by expert judges.
In addition to the team competition, individual participants were tasked with answering ten questions about the animals they evaluated, showcasing their ability to observe and analyze the differences between various species.
Lance Venvertloh from Quincy 1 Varsity took home the first-place prize in the varsity individual category, competing against 218 other students. The Quincy 1 Varsity team also performed well, securing 10th place out of 70 teams in the varsity team competition.
This annual competition serves as an excellent opportunity for high school students to gain hands-on experience in livestock evaluation while connecting with others who share their passion for agriculture. With events like this, JWCC continues to support the future of farming by nurturing young talents in agriculture.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-poike
Categories: Illinois, Education