Charlotte Streat, a sophomore from Livingston Parish, Hannah Dupuis, a freshman from Jefferson Davis Parish, and Austin Isibor, a junior from Assumption Parish, place Braford steers as part of the 2015 State 4-H and FFA Livestock Judging Contest held during the LSU AgCenter Livestock Show at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales on Feb. 18. (Photo by Johnny Morgan)

Members of the LSU livestock judging team are: Cobey Hendry, Kentwood, Louisiana; Trent Dugas, Loreauville,, Louisiana; Katelyn Corsentino, Denham Springs, Louisiana; Kate Steelman, LaBelle, Florida; Mattie Medinis, Flowermound, Texas; Morgan Richard, Elton, Louisiana; Adam Barrilleaux, St. Gabriel, Louisiana; and Braxton Hartshorn, Waco, Texas. (Photo by Johnny Morgan)

News Release Distributed 02/19/15

GONZALES, La. – The Vermilion Parish livestock judging team will advance to the national livestock judging competition in Louisville, Kentucky, this fall after winning first place at the 2015 State 4-H and FFA Livestock Judging Contest held during the LSU AgCenter Livestock Show at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales.

The team included Brett Lee, Jade Herpin and Shelbi Picard. The overall individual winner was Yimmi Fontenot from Jefferson Davis Parish.

A total of 50 high school students participated in the competition, where the students judged market goats, breeding ewes, market lambs, Braford steers, breeding gilts and market hogs.

LSU AgCenter beef and swine specialist Tim Page said the competition was a good opportunity for the youth to get experience and to win the trip to the national competition.

“In the past, we’ve had this competition as part of 4-H University at LSU in June,” Page said. “But it is really hard to get animals during the heat of the summer to put on a good competition for the kids. So for the past three years we’ve had it here at the state show.”

The contestants, who were chosen by their 4-H agents and FFA advisors, are often, but not always, involved in a livestock project at the show, Page said.

During the competition, the young judges take 12 minutes to score the four animals in each class, then move to the next class. They also give oral reasons on the breeding classes.

The eight-member LSU livestock judging team officiated at the contest and came up with the ranking of the animals. Page said.

“We have seven classes for them to evaluate,” Page said. “And when they finish placing the animals, they will give three sets of oral reasons telling why they placed them the way they did.”

Phil Elzer, LSU AgCenter program leader for animal sciences, said the competition was a good way to have LSU students work with 4-H and FFA youth to help them learn the details involved in being a livestock judge.

LSU livestock judging team member Braxton Hartshorn, of Waco, Texas, said the young judges are scored 50 points on their placement of the animals and 50 points on their oral reasons.

Page, who is also in charge of the LSU livestock judging team, said he’s happy to have a team back on campus after not having a team for a long time.

“Our team judged seven livestock shows last fall, along with two spring shows,” Page said. “We just got back last week from judging the Dixie National Intercollegiate livestock contest, where they did really well.”

Jessie Hoover, LSU AgCenter 4-H agent in Livingston Parish, said she works with the FFA advisors in her parish to get students who do both 4-H and FFA livestock judging to develop her team.

“The students are usually judging contests for FFA during the year,” she said. “And we’ll work with them for the 4-H contest.”

The students are gaining experience that not only wins them awards, but they also can win scholarships that are offered by some colleges, Hoover said.

Morgan Fruge, who competes for Jefferson Davis Parish and shows Angus cattle, said she became interested in judging mainly because she likes looking at the animals.

“I like being able to know how the animals should look, understand how they work and know how to pick and choose for the herd,” Fruge said. “In almost every breed of animal, you’re going to look for power, movement and bone structure.”

The youth who do the best in livestock judging are those who want to learn and work hard, whether they are involved in livestock projects or not, Page said.

The 80th annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show runs through Saturday, Feb. 21, when the awards ceremony will be held.

Johnny Morgan