Enduring Event is Hands-On Learning Experience for Both WC Students and High School Participants
A record-breaking 1,402 participants, representing 97 high schools from Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, honed their skills in agronomy and judging swine, sheep, goats, equine, beef and dairy cattle Wednesday (March 4) at the Wilmington College Aggies' 62nd annual Livestock Judging Contest.
PICTURED: High School students judge sheep in the general livestock arena. For the duration of the competition, the student groups rotate to judge various corrals of animals.
Billed as the largest competition of its kind east of the Mississippi, WC’s competition represents real life application and an experiential learning experience for both the high school students and WC’s agriculture students that stage the event.
Winners included: General Livestock — West Liberty-Salem (team) and Dillon Peck from Miller City (individual); Dairy — Fairlawn-UVCC and Gloria Terry from Mechanicsburg; and Agronomy — Miami Trace and Lahni Stachler from Miami Trace; and Equine — East Clinton and Dessie Shepherd from Green County.
Rachel Jordan, president of the Aggies, declared the contest "a huge success" for both her organization, which staged the mega-event at the Clark County Fairgrounds, and also for all those high school students who are now better prepared for judging at county fairs, 4-H contests and other upcoming competitions.
"This is really exciting for us as a college," Jordan said. "Not only is this contest a way for us agriculture students to give back to a program that means so much to us but it's a great way for high school students to see a glimpse of what Wilmington College has to offer."
Jordan said the judging experience is a "true testament" to the College's hands-on living mantra.
"I hope each student left today's contest with a better knowledge of how to judge their respected areas, along with a stronger sense of confidence in themselves," she added, noting many of her WC peers once participated in the Aggies' competition.
"We understand the time and effort these kids put into practicing for these contests, and we want to give back," she said. "Not only are we orchestrating a large contest, but we are preparing the next generation of Ag professionals to be their very best. "
Jordan credited her Aggies leadership team, along with support from the agriculture faculty and the College for this annual renewal of the event's enduring success.
This year's participation total eclipsed last year's record-setting mark of 1,367 students. Some 830 students judged general livestock, with 226 evaluating dairy, 277 equine and 69 agronomy.
Harold Thirey, assistant professor of agriculture and Aggies adviser, praised his students for their sense of professionalism and commitment to making the contest the best possible experience for the visiting students.
“The Aggies pulled this off superbly,” he said, stressing that the contest is a student-produced event, from booking the facility and publicizing it with high school students to securing the livestock and hosting an activity that regularly draws more than 1,000 students.
“The agriculture faculty is proud of our students,” Thirey added, citing Aggies president Jordan for her leadership role.
He noted that successfully attracting hundreds of high school students to the Wilmington College activity is a result of building credibility over the years and becoming recognized for staging a high-quality event.
“Where else can you find 1,000-plus students having a good time all in one place,” he said. “It’s a great thing seeing them doing something that is constructive, educational and fun.”
Thirey said the competition represents one of the distinct components of the College’s agriculture program, which was established in 1948 and has become WC’s largest academic offering.
“Our College students get to work with some high-quality animals and interact with sponsors (which might have some job and internship networking opportunities), but the greatest satisfaction for the Aggies is simply putting on such a successful event for high school students,” Thirey said.
Wilmington College’s Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree program features concentrations in agricultural business, agronomy, animal science, equine business management, agricultural communications and agricultural education. Also, WC has a new ag-related concentration in food policy and agriculture advocacy. The College offers minors in equine studies and sustainability.
