Posted: April 22, 2019
The team also placed second in the Breed Selection Division and fifth in the Market Products Division. Karissa Lombardo was high individual in the Breed Selection Division and 18th overall.
Penn State's Collegiate Poultry Judging Team placed 3rd in the nation at the 72nd USPOULTRY Foundation Ted Cameron National Poultry Judging Contest held at Louisiana State University in early April.
They placed 2nd in the Breed Selection Division and 5th in the Market Products Division.
Karissa Lombardo, Old Bridge, NY, was high individual in an extremely competitive Breed Selection Division and was 18th overall. Eleven teams and 43 individuals from around the country participated.
Team Members from Penn State's Department of Animal Science in addition to Lombardo and their achievements were:
- Montana Riggs, Colts Neck, NJ - 9th overall, 5th in the Market Products Division, 12th in Breed Selection Division
- Megan Laubach, Dover, PA - 11th overall, 10th in Egg Production Division, 13th in Breed Selection Division
- Alicia Gates, Mechanicsburg, PA - 6th in Breed Selection Division
Phillip J. Clauer, Assistant Teaching Professor in Penn State's Department of Animal Science, coached the team. He said, "I was extremely proud of these four young ladies. None have ever really judged anything especially poultry and they did extremely well. I look forward to the fall contest."
Dr. Terry Etherton, Head of the Department of Animal Science said, "I congratulate members of the team for this national achievement, and commend our poultry science faculty and staff for their diligence in preparing the students for this rigorous contest.
The University of Arkansas placed 1st in the contest; Ohio State University, 2nd; Penn State 3rd; Kansas State, 4th: Texas A&M, 5th. Other participating schools included Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University, University of Georgia, University of North Georgia, Iowa State University, and the University of Wisconsin, River Falls.
The students prepared for the competition through a rigorous training program as part of a 14-week poultry science course. To earn a spot on the Penn State team, they competed with fellow students during an 1,800 point midterm exam. The competition allows students the opportunity to demonstrate how well they have mastered their knowledge of breed selection for meat production, egg production and purebred chicken defects as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture rules and regulations governing the grading of eggs and poultry carcasses.
Clauer notes that employment opportunities abound for graduates in poultry science. Anyone interested in a career in the industry should contact Clauer at (814) 863-8960 or by email at pclauer@psu.edu.
The judging team received partial funding from the Office for Undergraduate Education "Student Activities Fund" to enable them to travel to this event.
Submitted by Phillip Clauer (pclauer@psu.edu)
