How well can you judge?

Stockman’s Club hosts competition; U of M does well

PHIL COOK VOLUNTEER STAFF

In a recent competition, students were judged on . . . well, judging. On Jan. 12, the University of Manitoba Stockman’s Club hosted the seventh annual Intercollegiate Judging Competition just east of Winnipeg in Pine Ridge Equine Park.

A judging competition tests students’ ability to accurately judge a variety of agricultural categories including dairy and beef, cattle, sheep, horses, grains and forages. The competitors try to place the class of the category the same way as the official judge had; the victors are those who judge the closest to the official results.

Competition director Dana Rankin said that there are many benefits of such competitions. “While at these competitions it gives us the time to get out and learn new things, but also to meet and network with fellow students in agriculture,” she said.

Due to the weather, teams from the University of Saskatchewan and Lakeland College were unable to make the trip, but competitors from Olds College in Alberta and Assiniboine Community College in Brandon braved the cold temperatures to compete against teams from the U of M in the day-long event.

The U of M was well-represented in the competition, with the team of Sarah Laudin, Sarah Galbraith, Kelwyn Hoeppner, and Naomi Berard being crowned the top team of the event.

U of M students enjoyed many individual accolades as well, including Wain Prinsloo placing first in both the sheep and dairy cattle categories, and Brent Sorenson taking first place in the wheat class. The overall top individual award went to Aaron Birch of Olds College.

The awards were handed out at an evening banquet.

This year, the Stockman’s Club invited local 4-H members to come out and try their hand at judging, and learn a few things from watching the competition. Rankin, who is currently pursuing a degree in agri-business, got her start in 4-H. “A lot of our members started out in 4-H, and have previous judging experience through the program, so we are just giving back,” Rankin said.

Rankin has been an active member of the student-run Stockman’s Club for the past four years. Along with competing in judging competitions, the club organizes tours and events for its members.

“The objective of the club is to talk and learn from producers on what to look for in different species of livestock,” she explained.

Though the club is primarily comprised of agriculture students, everyone at the U of M is welcome to join, Rankin said. “Most people think the club is for animal science students, but it is open to everyone who attends the University of Manitoba.”

The club helps host a variety of agriculture social events throughout the year, and can be seen selling hats annually at the popular U of M Aggies Eat Yer Hat social, which took place the evening after the competition.