More than 1,000 FFA students from across the state perfected their livestock judging abilities at an event hosted by the ILHS/OHP FFA Chapter at the Logan County Fairgrounds.
Students from 74 schools across Ohio got to hone their judging skills on cattle, sheep, goats and hogs recently. In addition, they also participated in poultry, equine and dairy cattle contests.
Because of severe weather moving through the county, students did have to congregate in the storm shelters at the Logan County Fairgrounds for about 15 minutes out of an abundance of caution.
ILHS/OHP FFA Advisor Dan Young says this event is great practice prior to the State FFA Judging contests in late March. The exercises are all based on standards that the Ohio FFA and Ohio Department of Education require and the content covers material that the students need to know for a career based in livestock. New this year, specially trained dairy handlers were on hand to give students who show at the state level advice on how to increase their scores.
ILHS/OHP FFA members led groups to barns for judging animals in stations throughout the fairgrounds. Students had about ten minutes to rank the group of animals and fill out their test sheets. Tests were then turned in and graded by a host of experienced FFA livestock judges ranging from collegiate national team members, and Ohio State University panelists to local experts who judge national and county livestock shows. The feedback received at this contest should help students in upcoming contests and during fair season this summer.
Local farmers, including many members of the Indian Lake FFA Alumni Group, provided the animals involved in the contests and volunteered to help with the massive event.