For the second year in a row, Louisiana State University (LSU) won the high team overall category at the 71st USPOULTRY Foundation Ted Cameron National Poultry Judging Contest, held at LSU. The team from Texas A&M was not far behind in second place. Additionally, Matthew Seguin was the high individual overall winner, and Braxton Hartshorn finished second overall. Both are from LSU.
Twelve universities participated in the competition in production judging, breed selection and market products judging. The schools included the following: Iowa State University, LSU, Mississippi State University, North Carolina State University, Ohio State University, Penn State University, Texas A&M, University of Arkansas, University of Georgia, University of North Georgia, University of Wisconsin – River Falls and West Virginia University. Barbara Jenkins, USPOULTRY vice president of education and student programs and executive director of the USPOULTRY Foundation, presented the awards.
The contest is made possible by a grant from Mountaire Corp. in honor of Ted Cameron, founder of Mountaire. It is part of the USPOULTRY Foundation's comprehensive student outreach program, established to enhance young people's interest in the poultry industry and encourage student enrollment in poultry science and related studies.
In addition to the Ted Cameron National Poultry Judging Contest, the USPOULTRY Foundation sponsors the annual College Student Career Program, International Student Program, National FFA CDE at the International Poultry Expo (IPE), and co-sponsors the Ph.D. Career Fair during IPE, part of the International Production & Processing Expo. Other youth outreach sponsorship includes the National FFA Convention and National 4-H poultry activities. The Foundation also funds student recruiting efforts at colleges and universities from coast to coast.
