It also trains them in the leadership qualities of oral communication. The contest begins at 8 a.m. and the team is given until noon to judge 12 different classes of horses. That afternoon, team members must go before a judge and given two minutes explain their placings on six of the classes selected by the show's officials. It can be intimidating and difficult. Even so, Potter never lacks volunteers for the extra-curricula activity.
Students begin by taking an animal science course in the spring to learn the basics.
In the fall, their real workout begins, he said. The team begins practice a week before the semester begins. Practices and contests sometimes carry over into the weekend. They will have judged at five major contests before they end the school year. In fact, one of Potter's 1990 graduates was a judge at this year's contest, he said.