When the Okaloosa County Livestock Judging Team competed in the annual West Florida Livestock Show last month, it was significant.
Our county hadn't sent a livestock judging team to the competition in over 15 years. Not until the March 6 event at the William M. Inman Agricultural Center in Quincy, Fla.
The group representing Okaloosa participated in the Livestock Judging Classes' Junior and Senior Divisions.
So, what is livestock judging?
Well, it consists of carefully analyzing animals and measuring them against a standard commonly accepted as being ideal. Livestock judging also has been defined as a study of the relationship between an animal's form and function.
There are two components: placing a group of animals, and orally justifying your decision — or, as it’s commonly known, giving reasons.
When a judging team member analyzes a class of animals, he or she is not only comparing the animals in the class, but also comparing each animal to the ideal animal in that species.
To do this, the judge must establish priority areas and develop strategies to arrive at the final placing of that particular class.
So, what are the benefits of being on a livestock judging team?
Well, it allows youths enrolled in 4-H Livestock Projects to demonstrate their knowledge of cattle, swine, lambs and meat goats.
This can lead to opportunities for traveling and scholarships.
In addition, the experience helps kids build self-esteem, and communication, observation and critical thinking skills.
Okaloosa County’s Livestock Judging Team meets monthly at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension Building, 3098 Airport Road,Crestview.
Misty Smith is an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.
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DID YOU KNOW?
4-H, the Florida Cooperative Extension's youth development program, is open to all youths ages 5-18.
The group offers opportunities to acquire knowledge, develop leadership skills, and form attitudes to become productive, contributing members of the community.
If your children are interested in joining the Livestock Judging Team, contact Misty Smith, 689-5850 or mismith@ufl.edu.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Here's what it takes to be an Okaloosa livestock judge