Chico State Livestock Judging Camp Continues to Inspire Future Judges
Article by Abby Jacobsen, Animal Science Second Year, Livestock Judging Team Member | Photos by Crystal Amen Photography (Agricultural Business '06)
The next generation of livestock evaluators convened at the Chico State University Farm to practice an important sentiment: judge livestock, not people. During a three-day camp in early August, over 120 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) students ages 9-18 attended the Chico State Livestock Judging Camp and Contest to build and improve their livestock evaluation and oral presentation skills. Coached by past and present members of the Chico State and Modesto Junior College Livestock judging teams, attendees spent the weekend evaluating high-quality livestock, including champion animals from the California Youth Ag Expo (CYAE) in Tulare, California, the Chico State beef and sheep units and hogs from No Limit Genetics, receiving critiques, coaching, feedback from influential leaders in the livestock industry, and fostering connections among peers with similar goals and passions.
“The partnership with CYAE has allowed the judging camp to provide an elite learning experience for the attendees and give the Chico State judging team a unique platform to teach the campers how to judge,” said Clay Carlson, College of Agriculture faculty member and judging team coach. “It’s not every day we get to work with the champions of all four market species from a major stock show” commented.”
The weekend began with a goal-setting initiative where College of Agriculture faculty member Kasey DeAtley pushed students to reflect on a desired area of growth—and to hold one another accountable as they worked towards improvement throughout the weekend. Soon after, the novice campers, all ages with virtually no livestock judging experience, received a comprehensive synopsis of livestock evaluation from former youth judging coaches Mark Clement and College of Agriculture faculty member Celina Phillips. They later joined the intermediate and advanced students, those with multiple years of judging experience, in evaluating classes of cattle, sheep, hogs, and goats. In a traditional contest, students are given a short increment of time to rank a class of four animals from best to worst and take notes on why they are sorted in this manner.
Chico State allowed students to practice this process before engaging in a group discussion with seasoned livestock professionals and hear a formal explanation of the animal’s phenotypic attributes and vices. Once students have an accurate read on the animals themselves, they are asked a series of questions that require them to recall the animals and their notes from memory. Additionally, livestock evaluators are given a limited time to compose a one to two minute memorized set of oral reasons; this is the evaluator’s opportunity to articulate to a contest official the thought process that led them to place a class of animals the way they did. Livestock judging teaches students critical thinking, deductive reasoning, public speaking, and professionalism. The Chico State Livestock Judging Camp created an environment where students could hone these very skills whilst also developing a passion for the livestock industry and fostering relationships with students from across the Western United States.
“The judging camp has become an integral part of the livestock judging program at Chico State,” states Carlson. “We attract the best 4H and FFA kids from the west coast and bring them to the university farm for three days of education, competition, and fun”.
From visually assessing multiple classes of livestock, to practicing questions and working up sets of reasons, the college-aged coaches ensured that all campers had a positive, engaging experience by creating games, drills, and activities that made learning enticing and exciting. One group, coached by Joe Porter and Krisarah Nygren, had students practice giving sets of reasons in front of the entire team; except, instead of ranking animals, students were ranking fast food restaurants.
“We had them work up a set on some common fast-food restaurants, and man, I think it was the most fun not only the campers had, but also myself and my co-coach had too,” said Joe Porter, an Agricultural Science major and current member of the livestock judging team. “It was one of the best parts of the judging camp for me”.
The camp concluded with an official judging contest on Saturday where students put their newfound knowledge and skills to the test and evaluated 6 classes of livestock, answered 20 questions, and delivered two sets of reasons. Campers cheered one another on as awards were presented to the highest-scoring individuals, and coaches declared their “outstanding camper” and “goal-getter”. The camp concluded with a final goal reflection, where students evaluated the progress they made over the course of the weekend.
“The Chico State Livestock Judging Camp is a great experience for all levels of young livestock evaluators. The in-depth dive they take into evaluation and reasons formatting helps students of all ages better understand what it takes to be successful in this contest” states Rex Mendonza (Agricultural Education, ’10), Modesto High School agriculture teacher and judging coach. “As a high school coach I appreciate the professionalism of the judging camp staff and the student centered approach to teaching the kids the basics. As an alum of the College of Agriculture and judging team it was great to see my students engaged and appreciated, which goes a long way in their development. The food provided was next level good and my students really enjoyed getting to meet other competitors during the recreation time. Finishing the camp off with a high-quality contest and amazing awards was a great way to ensure that camp was well worth our time. We will be in attendance every year it is offered!”
Outside of the time dedicated to the content of the camp, students, adults, and coaches alike enjoyed delicious meals provided by the Chico State Meats Lab and relished a family-style barbeque with music, dancing, and games for all.
“I really enjoyed our classroom time learning more in-depth about livestock judging as well as meeting new people and bonding over our shared passion,” said Olivia Barnes, Las Plumas FFA and2024 camp participant.
When asked what this camp means for the future of the Chico State Livestock Judging program, Carlson saw recruiting as the main objective. “We hope our camp will encourage the best of the best to stay on the West Coast and represent their home region in national competition in the future. It will attract tier-one students to Chico State and will continue to solidify the tradition of excellence that the judging program has forged over the years.”
The Chico State Livestock Judging camp brought together a community of livestock enthusiasts, intelligent competitors, and dedicated individuals for a weekend of knowledge-building, skill development, and relationship-forging. It would not have been possible without the Chico State and Modesto Junior College students who took on the roles of event coordinators, group leaders, and learning facilitators. The judging camp provided a valuable experience for attendees but is also a reflection of the dedication brought forth by Chico State’s own students, faculty, staff, and alumni, who volunteered their time, energy, and resources to bring this event to life between the months of May and August. We are so grateful to provide a meaningful event for students, young livestock evaluators, and the larger livestock community and we look forward to doing it again in 2025.
