Earlier this month, Hamilton Heights FFA members traveled to the Boone County Fairgrounds to compete in the Area Livestock Skillathon contest. These students had been preparing for a long time to bring their best to the competition, and they did not disappoint.
The contest consisted of four areas of identification and knowledge-based tests.
As part of the identification, students needed to know: 1) Breed Identification (know the name of the breed along with the description of the breed, so where it comes from and what its purpose is; 2) Feed Identification (What is the feed along with the category it fits into: protein, energy, mineral); 3) Equipment Identification (name the piece of equipment) and 4) Meats Identification – this is the hardest ID pieces of the contest. Students must be able to identify the species it comes from (beef, pork, or lamb), what primal it comes from (example: loin, rib, leg, round, etc.), the retail name (porterhouse, T-bone, rib roast, etc.) and cookery (how is it cooked: Dry, Moist or Dry/Moist).
Two other components of the contest are knowledge test based through 1) an Industry Quiz (25 questions of animal industry all around knowledge) and 2) Quality Assurance Test (20 questions – students need to know how to read medicine/feed labels and answer questions about those feed/medicines).
HHHS Juniors – 10th Team/Junior Division
- Team members: Brooke McMillen, Abbie Sheller, Kaylee Smith, and Leah Happel
HHHS FFA Juniors 10th Team. (From left) Leah Happel, Annie Sheller, Abbie Sheller, Kaylee Smith, and Brooklyn McMillen. (Photo provided)
SENIOR DIVISION
HH FFA Gold – 2nd Team: ADVANCING TO STATE
- Madison McLendon – 4th individual
- Lauren Happel – 7th individual
- Cheyenne Boggs 17th individual
- Cooper Rollins – 40th individual
HHHS FFA Gold 2nd Team. (From left) Lauren Happel, Cheyenne Boggs, Madison McLendon, and Cooper Rollins. This team placed second at area, earning a spot at the state competition on Oct. 7 at Purdue University. This next level will include team activities like quality assurance, keep/cull classes, marketing, and meat, hay, and wool judging classes. (Photo provided)
HHHS 4-H Gold – 4th Team: ADVANCING TO STATE
- Tatym Green – 10th individual
- Quentin Derrer – 11th individual
- Kaden Derrer – 14th individual
- Jenna Schnarr – 18th individual
HHHS FFA Gold 4th Team. (From left) Kaden Derrer, Tatym Green, Jenna Schnarr, and Quentin Derrer. This team placed fourth at area and is advancing to state the state competition. Here they will be met with more activities including team events. (Photo provided)
HHHS FFA Orange – 7th Team
- Marshall Frye – 13th individual
- Ryann Liggett – 24th individual
- Jasmine Smith – 36th individual
- Keagan Shively – 70th individual
HHHS FFA Orange 7th Team. (From left) Jasmine Smith, Marshall Frye, Ryann Liggett, and Keagan Shively. (Photo provided)
Individual
- Sophia Hulen – 43rd individual
Overall, there were 35 seniors’ teams, and 129 individuals. In the junior division there were 14 teams and 58 individuals that participated in this competition.
“I am super proud of all of these members for preparing and attending the contest and then for all of them to do so well!” Hamilton Heights FFA Advisor Emilie Carson said. “If you look at our scores overall, our members are all stacked up right together and to me that’s a win in itself. Then on top of that, all our teams are in the top 10! INCREDIBLE! This is one of my favorite events as an agriculture educator to coach and see my students succeed in and Wednesday was the perfect storm. Our area is stacked with tough competition, and we are proud to have two of the four teams advancing to state. Over the next few weeks, we will be working hard to prepare for the state competition at Purdue on October 7.”