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SUNNY Temp: 79 °F Wind: ENE at 4 mph Tuesday, August 12, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend July 20, 2003 Judges display animal instincts At the Jackson County Fair, livestock judging is serious business for high school students By GREG STILES Mail Tribune Josh Duarte is the seasoned veteran among Phoenix High School’s inexperienced Future Farmers of America judging team. Duarte, who turns 17 on Aug. 4, displays an air of confidence as he and his teammates sit on the bleachers in the Olsrud Pavilion, awaiting the first of more than a half-dozen judging events leading up to the state fair. FFA and 4-H club members compete in different classes as they demonstrate their ability to distinguish cow-, pig- and sheep-market quality and breeding traits. He calmly outlines the objective and succinctly sums it up: "If you’re going to be working with livestock in the future," he says, "you want to be able to pick out the better fair animals." Advertisement Saturday’s judging, among the final animal events in the Jackson County Fair that closes today, is an eye-opener for some and a rite of passage for others. "This contest is the Grandaddy," says Tim Ray, Eagle Point agriculture teacher and Crater High School graduate. "If you win this one, you’ve really done something — the competition is that fierce." As the predominantly high school and middle school youngsters make their way through seven stations (six for younger 4-H entrants), they eye-ball four animals at a time for up to 10 minutes. Zach Rambo, a Crater High graduate and member of the 2002 national champion team, officiates one of the pig pens — keeping the animals on the move and making sure participants follow the observation and discussion limitations. "There’s a logical placing based on industry acceptance and what consumers want," Rambo says. "Once you’ve been around it, you get the feel for it — whether an animal is a good one or has the proper qualities." It takes relatively little time for keen-eyed veterans to rank four animals at some stations, while other stops require greater thought and a few touches to discern the proper line-up. "There were no surprises," reports Duarte after nearly 90 minutes of perusal. The feeder cattle, however, were different. "It’s because of their borderline heavy and moderate muscle," he admits. "We were allowed to touch them." In most events, entrants can earn up to 500 points and the top three scorers factor into the team score. A big chunk is scored in the verbal delivery of reasons for their rankings. Although entrants may have a great deal of information to back their picks, they have to pare that information down to two minutes for officials — present junior college and major college team members. "My goal is to make it in the top 10, in all the pieces," says Duarte as he prepares to come up with his oral reasons presentation. "I work it over in my head, until I think I’ve got them down." Keep-cull ewes weren’t present this time around, dropping the possible points to 450 for individuals and 1,350 in team scoring for Saturday’s judging. Crater scores 1,246 points, Phoenix, 1,214; Glide, 1,166; and Crane 1,147. Eagle Point only has two participants and isn’t included in the team scoring. Duarte doesn’t win, but he does beat his expectations, finishing in the top five. Crater senior-to-be Sarah North tops the field with 425 points, followed by Owen White of Crater, 413; Tony Brumbach of Glide, 412; Duarte, 412 (the tie is broken based on the higher score in the reasons category); and Lacie Hoffman of Crater, 408. Crater’s success has raised expectations for surrounding teams. Even throughout the school year, ag students are prepping for summer county fair competitions that lead to the state fair judging. Rachel Bradley, a second-year agriculture and horticulture teacher at Phoenix High School, says her FFA members are developing their eye. "We’re in a rebuilding year," she admits. In the days ahead before the Aug. 21-Sept. 1 state fair, judging teams will busy themselves with stops at Deschutes, Benton, Douglas, Siskiyou, Klamath and either Josephine or Clackamas county fair. Today’s fair schedule ACCESS FOOD DRIVE DAY $1 off admission with non-perishable food item 7 a.m.: 4H/FFA Breakfast, Olsrud Pavilion 7 a.m.: Open Goat Show, Olsrud Pavilion 10 a.m.: 4-H Horse Award Ceremony, Dinner Theater Stage Noon-4 p.m.: Blues Festival, Headline Stage, featuring the Gottwood Brothers, Chase n’ The Blues, and Little Charlie and the Nightcats 1:30 p.m.: Old Navy Fashion Show, Dinner Theater Stage 2 p.m.: Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest, Chaisson Park 2 p.m.: Safe Self Defense Training, Fountain Plaza 3 p.m.: World of Horses, Isola Arena 3 p.m.: Talent Show, Youth & Adult Divisions, Dinner Theater Stage 3 p.m.: Medford BMX Bike Racers Demonstration, Fountain Plaza 5 p.m.: 4-H Award Ceremony, Olsrud Pavilion 5 p.m.: Safe Self Defense Training, Fountain Plaza The fair, which ends today, is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Jackson County Exposition Park, Central Point. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors 62 and over and youth 7-12. From noon to 5 p.m., wristbands allowing unlimited amusement rides are $14. Shuttles provided by the Rogue Valley Transportation District runs on the half-hour until 5 p.m., when they run every 15 minutes. Pickup locations are at the Rogue Valley Mall in Medford and Scenic Middle School in Central Point. Round-trip fare is $1 general, 50 cents for youth 7-12 and seniors. Parking at the fairgrounds is $4. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or e-mail [email protected] . Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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