Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1912-02-16
Student Stock
Judging Contest.
BY II. p. Griffin, Animal Indus.
try Department, Montana Az.
ricUtturaI College.

n try Department, Montana Az.
- ricvituraI College.
+ i ! = : ! + i. j. !. !. ). !. + =;
There is new project on at tn.
Montana Agricultural College tina
gives promise Of carrying it's name far
oher from home than anything thai
has ever been attempted there. 1t is
the sending of stock Judging team
composed Of college students, to the
International Live Stool. Show al
Chicago in the early part of Decem
Der, where it will compete with teams
from the leading agricultural colleges
OF the United States and Canada. Last
year nine institutions were represent.
ed there. seven from this country and
two from Canada, and the number will
RIobably increase this year.
The size and the import of this con.
<eSf is scarcely realized by those who
have never been connected with it in
any way. A team consists of five stu.
uents. who are required to place and
ave reasons on twelve rings of live
2tock, three each Of horses, cattle,
sheep. and hogs. The boys in the con-
test are divided into groups and these
groups work separately on the different
Nessses of stock, changing from one
Class to another. They are not only
+0Quired to place the stock-f1rst, Sec
Nood, third, etc.-but must be able to
tou the judges just why they placed
t0e animals as they did. They are
fQven fifteen to twenty minutes to look
ne class over and then are given two
minutes in which to give their rea-
sons. The team with the highest
score wins the contest The boys are
EEaded according to the placing and
0eir reasons, GO per cent being al
1nwed for the former and 40 per cent
fer the latter.
The benefits to be derived from en-
1eftng a team in such a contest are
both to the school and to
me boys themselves. TO the school
: gives greater publicity in all Sec
lions Of the country and practical
Dfoof that its applied science is OF
nigh quality. A winning team shows
that thorough, we'll balanced course
n animal husbandry is being con.
dncted at that institution.
TO the members Of the team the
6onefits derived are even more nu-
nerous than to the school that sends
hem. First Of all they must get a
thorough knowledge of good live stock.
Without this they cannot make the
Ram and, with a prize like trip to the
International before them, they go at
ne work, in fact all their work, with
: great deal more enthusiasm than
opuld otherwise be the case. AS q
matter Of permanent benefit to stu.
dents. acquaintance with animals OF
ne most approved standards is valu.
ole. Visits to few high class stock
breeding establishments and shows IA.
Ailiarize students with good animals
nd increase their ability as judges.
Tho choice OF men for judging teams
, made on q comparative basis. This
erves as an incentive to better work
throughout the students whole col.
ege course. 1t promotes the enthu.
oasm and interest without which the
Rock Judging contests would not &C.
upy the place they do today.
Few Of US out in this Western coun.
n realize the importance OF these
pntests to the schools Of the Middle
Vest. There the making of the
Rock judging team is the students
0ief ambition from the time he is a
eeshman. No other honor in his
SCHOOL life IL equal to it. For it he
Uill even give up football or some
8her favorite college sport. A team
must consist of five we'll balanced men,
Who have had ample training. who are
enthusiastic and ambitious. who have
he pride of their own school at heart,
md who are thoroughly familiar and
y love with good live stock. To make
The stock judging team is in itself a
good evidence OF the students eff
cheney.
AS was before stated. this is new
for Montana. To the col
sege and to the state it will mean
much, especially if the team makes
II good showing. 1t is entirely due to
the generosity and interest OF some of
the stockmen OF the state that the
team Is able to go. We owe them
debt of gratitude-the college, the
stOckmen as a whole. and the state
1Dr they have shown their interest in
he welfare of Montana. in the pro-
notion Of it's interests, and the de.
Velopment OF it's young men.