UW Collegiate Judging Program Reports Record Enrollment, Engagement

The University of Wyoming Department of Animal Science is reporting record enrollment this fall in its introductory meat, wool and livestock judging courses. According to a media release from the UW Extension Office, engagement has increased dramatically, with many students planning to compete as members of the UW College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources collegiate judging teams next season. The three-credit intro classes are open to all students, regardless of experience. Classes meet once to twice a week, typically at the meat lab, wool lab or UW farm in Laramie. Upon completing an introductory course, students are eligible to join the judging team in that focus area. 

Practices, including “workouts” in a lab or field setting, require a 10- to 20-hour per week time commitment. Teams also travel extensively for competitions, often holding practices at other universities or industry sites along the way. Students are only permitted to judge for one year in each discipline. UW Department of Animal Science Instructor and Meat Judging Program Coordinator McKensie Phillips said the three main benefits to participating in the judging program are skill development, training in a field that has a lot of career options and the opportunity for students to build communication and interpersonal skills. She said judging also offers students an opportunity to gain industry experience and network with professionals across the country. To learn more about UW’s collegiate judging program, contact McKensie Phillips at mckensie.phillips@uwyo.edu or (307) 766-2334.