Lynchburg-Clay FFA wins state livestock judging contest
Pictured (l-r) are Lynchburg-Clay FFA members and state champions Wyatt Osborn, Ashton Bain, Elam Faust and Gage Thompson. (Submitted photo)
The team consisting of Lynchburg-Clay FFA members Wyatt Osborn, Elam Faust, Gage Thompson, & Ashton Bain went into the finals of the General Livestock Judging Contest in second place and came out nine points ahead in the No. 1 spot.
This is only the third time in Lynchburg-Clay history that we have had a team qualify for finals and the first time in history that the school has won the contest and a state championship banner in livestock. Wyatt Osborn placed ninth individually, Elam Faust was 12th, Gage Thompson 18th and Ashton Bain 22nd place.
The LC FFA is no stranger to the General Livestock Judging Contest. Members of the state-winning team have participated in these contests since February of 2023.
The General Livestock CDE is an educational program designed as a practical way to teach students how to recognize quality production animals. The skills students gain in evaluating general livestock should help them become better livestock producers and consumers by giving them hands-on, practical experience in identifying and understanding traits that impact production and quality.
The preliminary contests consist of judging eight classes of livestock, selecting animals in a keep/cull scenario, completing a market grid and answering blind questions about four classes. In the finals round of the contest, members of the team evaluate four classes of livestock and present oral reasons defending their placings to a panel of judges. The group then also participates in a team activity with a livestock scenario and questions.
Other accomplishments this team has had this year include finishing second place as a team at Marysville Invitational with Wyatt Osborn placing first individually. LC traveled to Fayette County and placed fourth as a team with Wyatt Osborn leading the team in sixth place individually. Our last contest before State Prelims was Circleville/Elm where the team placed first with Joslyn Rockey third individually, Wyatt Osborn fourth individually, Gage Thompson seventh individually and Ashton Bain placing ninth individually.
Other members of this team that participated in prelims include: Maddie Brault, Joslyn Rockey, Addy Carraher and Mason Brault.