Chico State Livestock Judging Wraps Up Competitive Season

The California State University, Chico Livestock Judging team ended its 2021 season with a strong finish at all its fall contests. The team overcame multiple hurdles to make it to the finish line, especially after returning from a virtual environment.

The team, coached by Clay Carlson, is composed of students Josie Bennet, Spencer Francesconi, Courtney King, Annelise Perez, and Trae Slightom. Throughout the fall judging season, the team traveled across the nation representing Chico State and the College of Agriculture. 

Typically, each team prepares in the fall of every even year. The team would have started preparing in 2020, but competition was postponed due to the pandemic. The 2021 team began shortly after Labor Day, which left only about 60 days until the national contest on November 15.

In Medford, Oregon, at the Western Fall Classic on October 9, the team placed second overall with a first-place finish in the goat division. Slightom led the team at the competition, winning first high individual in beef and third high individual overall. Perez took second high individual in goats and fifth high individual overall. Francesconi placed third in swine and sixth high individual overall. King took third high individual in beef and seventh high individual overall. Bennet placed fifth high individual in goats.

At the Modesto Junior College Fall Classic on November 8, the team walked away with some individual awards. Perez placed fourth high individual overall with King and Slightom following in ninth and 10th places respectively. Additionally, Bennet placed second in cattle.

The group was skeptical about competing this year due to COVID-19, but through the team’s hard work and dedication, members were about to finish on a high note at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky. The team finished 12th overall out of 20 universities and was the eighth high team in cattle judging. There are four divisions in livestock judging: Cattle, Sheep, Goats, and Hogs. The cattle division makes the majority of the points.

“We stressed the importance of the biggest portion of the contest throughout the fall during practice. The teams who do well in cattle usually end up doing well in the entire contest,” Carlson said. “They did their best, and I couldn't be happier. Even with a shorter than normal judging experience, I feel like they maximized their time and prepared as well as we could considering the circumstances.”