By DOUG GRAVES

Ohio Correspondent

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Billed as the largest of its kind east of the Mississippi River, Wilmington College hosted its annual livestock contest at the Clark County Fairgrounds in Springfield.

This year approximately 1,300 FFA and 4-H students from high schools in Ohio, Indiana, and West Virginia converged at Champions Arena. “This contest is for those interested in agronomy, equine, general livestock, and dairy,” said Calla Henry, president of Wilmington Aggies at Wilmington College and a graduate of Connersville High School in Indiana.

“This contest is a preparation for state fairs for kids in Ohio and Indiana, especially. It gives them another set of calves, sheep, and other animals to look at. Also, it plays a big part in helping the students determine what ag discipline they want to pursue.”

According to the admissions office at Wilmington, 75 percent of students at the school gained their first interest in agriculture by participating in this annual judging contest.

“The purpose behind this contest is to basically put these students into a producer’s shoes to be able to judge the animal off their qualities and genetic differences,” said Harold Thirey, the Aggies’ advisor and assistant professor of agriculture at Wilmington. “It’s to pose scenarios that they will experience as producers if they remain in the agriculture industry.”

The contest represents real-life application and a hands-on learning experience for both the high school students and Wilmington agriculture students who stage the event. The top five finishers in each of the four categories that were judged won awards.

Each student entered Champions Center for the three-hour event with strict warning to keep their eyes on their own clipboard. No talking of any kind was permitted. The students underwent 10 rotations, observing market goats, market lambs, market pigs, dairy animals, equines, and agronomy.

As an example, while observing market lambs they had to answer questions pertaining to the heaviest-boned in the pen, which had the most shag, and which was best balanced, among other questions. With goats they were asked which had the most desirable horn set, which had the deepest rump, and other traits.

There was a separate agronomy section; at this stop, the students underwent a 45-minute, 25-question test on plants, seeds, insects, and plant diseases. Afterwards they performed a team event involving the plants. Many plants were on display, some with particular diseases the students had to identify.

Students were given a scenario involving soil maps with certain pH qualities, then were asked whether the field should be applied with certain herbicides, insecticides, and fertilizers.

The animals used for this event were outsourced from farms located in Indiana and Ohio.

Henry admitted that considering the history and tradition of the competition, the Aggies have a lot to live up to, as students mostly run this show. They secure the livestock and the judges, as well as publicize and handle the myriad logistics for the event.

“This annual event sets us apart from other universities and colleges in the state, as agriculture is the largest major on our campus,” said Wilmington President Jim Reynolds, who oversaw the event from a seat high above the arena. “One in four students on the Wilmington campus is an ag major.

“Also, this event provides a chance for the young competitors to see what we’re all about at Wilmington College.”