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Overview
To motivate students to learn and practice techniques of modern livestock evaluation and selection.
To evaluate students' abilities in livestock selection, decision-making, and oral justification of decisions.
To encourage classroom lessons in meat animal selection similar to real life situations faced by producers.
To develop an understanding and the ability to interpret performance database on industry standards.
To develop the ability to select livestock that will provide increased economic returns to producers, as well as meet the needs of the industry and consumers.
To become proficient in communicating in the terminology of the industry.
To identify the criteria used in marketing livestock.
Rules
Each chapter may enter a team composed of three or four participants, with the top three scores counting for the team's total score. Team members must all be members of the same FFA chapter.
Participants will not be permitted to handle any breeding animals. Handling of the market lamb classes will be permitted unless the CDE coordinator decides otherwise.
No team members or advisors are to observe livestock at nany of Iowa State University's farms or facilities from July 1, until the event. (Exception: Iowa State University sponsored events.)
Once FFA members are divided into groups, they must remain with their respective group and not communicate with anyone except an event official until after oral reasons are completed.
All classes will be judged at the Hansen Learning Center at the Iowa State University Campus.
Parking will be available in a designated area only. Vehicles not parked in this area may be subjected to fine or towing.
The event will be held at the same site and time as the Iowa 4-H Livestock Juding event. Registration, oral reasons, and award programs will be separate.
Placing cards, worksheets, and other written materials will be furnished for each event phase.
Participants will be given 10 minutes for each of the juding, keep-cull, and selection classes.
All classes and individual animals will be identified by numbers.
All breeding classes will be judged on type and/or performance.
Oral reasons will be required on three of the livestock classes. These classes will not be designated prior to the event.
Observers will not be permitted in the event area while the event is in progress. Some livestock classes will be left in place following the event so that FFA chapter advisors and others may view the classes and take photos of their judging team with the animals.