SALISBURY ó Did you see all the school buses at the Rowan County Fairgrounds a couple weeks ago and wonder, ěWhat the heck is going on?î
The county hosted the North Carolina 4-H/FFA Dairy Judging Contest at the fairgrounds, which is the largest FFA event in the state and is the largest dairy event in the state, with 700 children participating. Planning and conducting the continually-growing contest is a huge team effort of N.C. FFA, N.C. 4-H, Piedmont Research Station and Cooperative Extension.
Each FFA team evaluates six classes of dairy cattle and defends their placing with oral reasons. Participants also complete a written test and work collaboratively on a dairy herd selection activity.
The high-scoring FFA team is eligible to compete in the National FFA event at the National FFA Convention in 2012. The top scorers in the 4-H contest are eligible to try out for the N.C. 4-H Dairy Judging Team, which will represent the state at national dairy judging contests in 2012.
The two-day event has also become very popular for its educational sessions, including dairy products, hoof trimming, evaluating dairy cows and heifers, and reasons and rumen physiology using a fistulated steer, plus exposure to N.C. State (animal science and vet school), N.C. A&T State and SUDIA.
Davie County High School placed fourth in the senior FFA contest, led by Jacob Karrikerís fifth place individual effort. Other team members include Valerie Karriker, Jansen McDaniel and Kassy Walter.
South Rowan High School led the Rowan County charge, placing fifth in the senior FFA contest. Team members include Dallas Goodnight, Megan McCollum, Haley Shore and Brooke Smith.
West Rowan High School also had a top-10 finish in the senior FFA contest, placing ninth. Team members include Carl Kennedy, Jake Kennedy, Lauren Luther and Jacob Watson.
April Lamb led Carson High Schoolís 19th place effort, earning eighth overall individual honors. Other team members include Jill Foster, Talley Medina and Emerald Yost.
East Rowan High School also fielded a senior FFA team, with members Tiffany Hollar, Tyler Roseman, Sydney Turner and Maranda Wilcox.
In the junior FFA contest, Carson High School was paced by Megan Yatesí third overall individual placing as the team placed seventh. Other team members include Nikki Austin, Olivia Horning and Kaitlin Loggins.
West Rowan junior FFA team members include Mackenzie Dixon, Will Lytle, Ryan Menius and Jeremy Scott.
East Rowanís junior FFA individual was Sonya Rowland.
The Rowan County 4-H Senior Dairy Judging Team of April Lamb (fifth overall), Jacob Karriker (sixth overall), Lauren Luther (11th overall), and Valerie Karriker (18th overall) placed second in the 4-H contest, as Davidson County won by three points. Also competing as an individual in the senior division was Ryan Menius, while Jackson Noble competed as an individual in the junior division.
Brad Johnson, extension agent, agriculture ó livestock and dairy, Rowan County Cooperative Extension; 704-216-8970.