Shawn Jackson
Contributor
The Lafayette County Youth Farm Judging Contest was held on Friday, Oct. 8. Over 150 youth from Dixie, Madison, Gilchrist, Taylor and Lafayette Counties were represented at the 26th annual event. Livestock classes being judged at the contest included market hogs, replacement guilts, beef market heifers, beef replacement heifers and laying hens. Other categories for judging included peanuts, corn, hay, tobacco and silage. Youth also participated in the optional farm management competition that consisted of identifying feed commodities, poisonous weeds, insects, tools and a farm general knowledge test.
Nine Madison County 4-H members all placed in the Lafayette County Farm Judging Competition. Leah Webb, Charlotte Albritton and Jackson Churchwell placed second overall in the Junior Team competition. Jacob Churchwell, Brenden Warren and Caylee Crooks placed third overall in the Intermediate Team competition. Jessica Hasty, Stephanie Hasty and Chelsey Crooks placed second overall for the Senior Team competition. “The Madison kids spent several afternoons and evenings perfecting their farm judging skills,” said Beth Moore, Madison County 4-H Extension Services Agent.
Farm judging contests help develop life skills that are important in youth development. In livestock judging, youth must develop a keen sense of judgment and confidence to make a decision that will have to be defended in a set of oral reasons. Participation in livestock judging builds character and makes the individual more self-confidant. The farm management portion of the contest teaches youth knowledge about what is fed to animals before slaughter, the ability to recognize common tools used in agriculture and other industries, as well as general knowledge about the importance of agriculture to the nation's food supply.
The next competition for the judging teams will be held on Saturday, Nov. 13 at the North Florida Fair.