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Mizzou Livestock Judging Team

MU takes second place in annual swine judging contest

The Mizzou Livestock Judging Team consists of
(left to right): Lindsey Hicks, Rebecca Lewis, Mindy Briscoe, Chris Perry, Lance Martin and Neal Martin

A team from the University of Missouri took second place among universities in the 2009 National Barrow Show Swine Judging Contest held Sept. 14 in Austin, Minn.

The MU group achieved a score of 2976 points. Western Illinois University won first place in the division with a score of 2997 points out of a possible 3250 points.

Coached by Chip Kemp, animal science instructor, the MU team was comprised of Mindy Briscoe, a senior from Cairo studying animal sciences; Chris Perry, a first-year veterinary medical student from Bethel; Neal Martin, an animal sciences senior from Centralia; Lindsey Hicks, a senior from Tarkio studying agricultural education; Lance Martin, a senior from Shelbina majoring in agricultural education; and Rebecca Lewis, a Sarcoxie native and agricultural journalism senior.

Teams came from multiple states to compete in what Darrell Anderson, CEO of the National Swine Registry, called the "elite swine judging contest in America." The competition is designed to expose young people to high quality animals. The students evaluate a live animal for end-product value.

The winning team in each of the three levels of judging competition was awarded according to points accumulated in the contest. This year’s contest attracted 83 teams and 452 participants.

Briscoe won third place in the oral reason part of the competition. Briscoe was also rated seventh overall, Perry ninth overall and Neal Martin 12th overall.

The 63rd annual competition was held in conjunction with the four-day National Barrow Show. This event is co-sponsored by Hormel Foods Corp. and the National Association of Swine Records.

Story: Randy Mertens
Posted: Oct. 21, 2009