Once again junior beef, sheep, and swine exhibitors will have a chance to compete in the youth skillathons that contribute to the Overall Market Exhibitor (OME) Award. This year’s skillathons will be held on Wednesday, August 31st, from 4:00-8:00 pm in Spangler Arena on the Fulton County fairgrounds. Youth wishing to be eligible for the OME Award in their species, must compete in the skillathon. Registration is on-site and first come, first serve. There is no cost to participate and all youth, clubs, and chapters are encouraged to participate and demonstrate their knowledge of the livestock industry. Youth need to bring project record books to the event and they will be worth 4 pts of the total score. Youth can best prepare for the skillathons by completing their project books (they will be graded), reviewing the livestock learning kits (if your club does not have kits, they can be signed out at the Extension office), using university web resources and by working with your advisor. Cash awards will be granted to first ($50), second ($30) and third place ($20) Skillathon winners in each division.
BEEF and SHEEP DIVISIONS:
Junior Division – Ages 8-13 (as of January 1, 2016)
Senior Division – Ages 14-18 (as of January 1, 2016)
SWINE DIVISIONS:
Junior Division – Ages 8-11 (as of January 1, 2016)
Intermediate Division – Ages 12-14 (as of January 1, 2016)
Senior Division – Ages 15-18 (as of January 1, 2016)
Each skillathon will be made up of four stations with an additional tie breaker station if necessary. Stations for 2016 are: Beef—Nutrition, Meat Science, Quality Assurance, and Skeletal System; Sheep—Nutrition, QA, Genetic Selection and Record Keeping; and Swine—Nutrition, Skeletal System, QA/Earnotching and Equipment.
Furthermore, the skillathon score makes up exactly 1/3 of the total Outstanding Market Exhibitor Award along with the placing in one’s showmanship and market classes. If there are multiple market classes (Beef and Dairy Beef– Saturday’s market classes only; Sheep – Jr. market or Born-n-Raised; Swine – barrow or gilt), a youth’s highest ranking will be used. If there are multiple showmanship opportunities (Beef and Dairy Beef, steers and feeder calves), a youth’s highest ranking will be used. The Outstanding Market Exhibitor for Beef, Sheep and Swine will sell third in the sale order (behind Grand and Reserve Champion) and will receive an industry sponsored gift and monetary award.