Posted: November 22, 2017
Department of Animal Science students excel in Collegiate Poultry Judging Contest held at the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas.
Photo Caption: From left: Kevin Brubaker, Katie Hess, Phillip Clauer, Kurtis Miller, and Denver Greenawalt.
The Penn State Poultry Judging Team placed second at the 52nd National Collegiate Poultry Judging Contest held November 5-7 at the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR. They were second in the Breed Selection & Carcass Quality, fifth in the Egg Production & Quality Division.
Members of the team were: Kevin Brubaker, Trevorton, PA; Katie Hess, Lancaster, PA; Kurtis Miller, Honey Brook, PA; and Denver Greenawalt, Philipsburg, PA. The team was coached by Phillip J. Clauer, Senior Instructor in Penn State's Department of Animal Science.
Individual rankings included:
* Overall individual: Kevin Brubaker, 6th; Kurtis Miller, 8th; Katie Hess, 9th; and Denver Greenawalt, 13th
* Egg Production and Quality Division: Katie Hess 10th
* Breed Selection and Carcass Quality Division: Kevin Brubaker, 2nd; Kurtis Miller, 6th; and Katie Hess, 8th.
Texas A&M University captured first overall in the competition, followed by Penn State, second; University of Arkansas, third; Louisiana State University, fourth; Ohio State University, fifth. Other teams participating were: University of Wisconsin River Falls, North Carolina State University and Mississippi State University.
Students are selected for the Penn State team by enrolling in a AN SC 421 "Evaluation and Selection of Poultry" and competing for a spot during the spring semester. The team then completes a rigorous nine week extracurricular training program to prepare for the fall contest.
The Egg Production division includes seven classes: ranking two classes of five production hens for past production traits, two classes of five Pullets for future production traits and grading three 25 egg classes of exterior quality, interior candled and broken-out.
In the Breed Selection division, there are eight classes: ranking a male and female class of eight-week-old broiler breeders, a male and female class of 24-week-old broiler breeders, a male and female class of turkey breeders and grading two classes of 25 ready-to-cook carcasses for USDA grade standards.
In these classes, contestants must demonstrate their ability to select the breeders that will produce the most eggs and the offspring that will produce the meatiest carcass most efficiently. Students also are judged on how well they have mastered U.S. Department of Agriculture rules and regulations governing the grading of eggs and poultry carcasses.
Penn State teams have placed first three times, second seven times, third once and fourth twice since 2005. Anyone interested in the study of poultry or judging may contact Phillip Clauer at pjc19@psu.edu for more information on the poultry program at Penn State. There are abundant employment opportunities for students with the Poultry and Avian Science minor and a multitude of opportunities available to students in the Department of Animal Science through student clubs and teams. For more information visit http://animalscience.psu.edu/students.
The Poultry Judging Team received partial funding from the Office for Undergraduate Education "Student Activities Fund" to enable participation in this event.
