A32-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 15, 1992 THE VALUE OF JUDGING PROGRAMS Keith A. Bryan Instructor of Dairy And Animal Science Recent trends in animal agricul ture education nationwide have focused more on the scientific and technological aspects of undergra duate programs, partly because of the need to attract students from non farm backgrounds who often lack practical experience with farm animals. Understandably, prospective Attend Seeds Seminar LANDIS VILLE (Lancaster Co.) Hoffman Seeds, Inc. recently conducted a one-day training ses sion for its service cen ter representatives. Thirty representa tives attended the semi nar, which focused on sales programs, product attributes, and company procedures. Company service centers are located throughout the Hoffman territory, and their representatives are responsible for distri buting product and coordinating the efforts of sales associates. David Parker, a sales training specialist from Agri Business Com pany in Indianapolis, was the featured speak er. He talked about needing to add value to a customer’s seed purchase through better service. Aspects of improved service include greater sharing of agronomic informa tion, greater attention to detail, and ontime deliveries. Hoffman Seeds markets a variety of farm seed products for the Northeast, including Funk’s G® brand hybrids from the CIBA GEIGY Seed Division. employers value that experience, but more importantly, they seek employees with a basic under standing of technical subject mat ter of the major coursework, who possess confidence, the ability to concentrate, and skills in effective communication, decision-making, and critical thinking. These skills, necessary for life-long learning and job success, form the founda tion of any effective collegiate judging program and benefit even those students with farm background. Gehl rota A.L HERR & BRO. 312 Park Ava. Quanyvilla, PA STOUFFER BROS. ECKROTH BROS. INC. FARM EQUIPMENT 10M Lincoln Way Waal RR 02, Box 24A Chambaraburg, PA New Ringgold, PA miuhekt K. “ aER |g ulp " EHT 7< ni^n f A*r* ' RR 01 *•“** RO- Richland, PA Boohtatavilla, PA Results of two recently pub lished surveys outline the benefits of participiting in a judging prog nun. The surveys were distributed to participants in meats, livestock, horse, and wool judging programs who had graduated in the past 70 years. Courses in meat judging and evaluation improved writing ability, decision-making, and judgmental sills; exposed students to animal agriculture; developed concentration ability; and pro vided an opportunity for the pur suit of excellence through compet ition (Davis, et al., 1991). In a second survey (McCann and McCann, 1992), respondents were asked to rank personal attri butes developed or enhanced by judging programs. In terms of developmental importance, com munication skills and decision making skills ranked second and third, respectively, behind evalua tion skills. Respondents in this survey woe also asked to rank personal attributes gained through rakes deliver Stratch your oquipmont purchase dollars with Qthl Financo. Talk to your participating CMil doalor about our currant programs waiver of finance « mu> on all new Gehl lA/W IvN equipment until 0% for 18 months Dec. 1,1992 for 36 months Then standard 5.9% f or 48 months rate financing for up to 36 months "Certain restrictions may apply Sec your participating Gchl dealer for complete details Gehl Company reserves the nght to inter modify or cancel these programs at any time without prior notice Available From Your Local Participating Dealer MILLER-LAKE RR 02, Bex 273 A Ballavllla, PA EHL recise, crop-saving raking action. Gehl Mix-All® portable grinder-mixers have been leading the industry (or over 30 years. Now the new Gehl Roller Mixer combines proven Mix-All features with a commercial-grade roller milt to produce the best possible feed for your livestock. Gehl Mix-Alls and Roller Mixers offer these advanced features: • Total hydraulic control -self-contained hydraulic system allows infinite speeds to power the discharge conveyor, unloading auger and in-feed attachments. * Remote controla - operate the unloading conveyor from the tractor seat or from the rear of the machine. • Electronic acales - for precise ration weighing. • Customize your machine - with a wide variety of options and attachments. after that HINES EQUIPMENT BINKLEY t HURST PO Bex 8, Rl. 22 BROS. Creeeen, PA US RothavlHo Station RcL RR 03, Bex 880, Altoona LHHz, PA (Bollwood) LINCOLN SUPPLY & D-W-OGG EQUIPMENT CO. EQUIPMENT CO. RR 02, Box 217 A >*■■" Loo**" Somaroot, PA Cap m 1U Frederick, MO MeCaala, MO TaytorwMo, Md. (Befc’a Wetdlnp) judging programs that have been the most useful to them through out their lives. Improved commu nication skills was the single most useful attribute for 34 percent of the respondents. Evaluation skills, confidence, and decision-making skills were each ranked highest by an avenge of 16 percent of the respondents. In all of the judging program courses offered by Penn State’s Department of Dairy and Animal Science, students must demons trate an appropriate level of tech nical expertise in the subject mat ter and develop the communica tion skills appropriate and necessary for organized and logi cal justification of decisions. It’s believed that the communication skills components of many of our judging program courses are more intense and individualized than some courses in English or speech communication. For example, the number of presentations delivered during a Gehl rotary rakes are designed to gently handle your hay while raking it into high standing, fast drying, fluffy windrows. These easy-to-use, low maintenance rakes feature cam controlled arms with long, flexible tines that form high stand ing windrows for easy pickup by a baler or forage harvester. Rotary rake models are available with raking widths of 9 feet-4 inches aijp 10 feet - 4 inches. The #1 Name In Feedmaking Li OR GASH REBATES semester avenges approximately 80 sets of either oral or written reasons. Moreover, students may present reasons for critique to the course ins turn tor, unversity facul ty and staff, classmates, and industry personnel. They also can critique themselves on videotape. In addition to the speaking skills components of the livestock evaluation courses, students are required to understand and use performance records and genetic evaluations of the records in their decision-making strategies. Effec tive communication of their understanding of the pertinent data is imperative. Thus, students must integrate subjective and objective information, arrive at a decision, and then justify the deci sion based on the information gathered. Students invest both time and some of their own money in judg ing program participation, gaining the opportunity to travel to various Model RR 262 RR 264 ' '<*< 'v-' s' (Turn to Pag# A 33) ■£l V% far la 89% £uHT** S *>*Uo ”****** 2W2t ©1992 ecM Company UMBERGER'S OF FONTANA RR.O4 (Font* na) Lebanon, PA ICKES FARM SUPPLY Rl. 1 Hwy NS Waal Oslaffaurg, PA TOM DUNLAP Rl. 220 . Main St. Jaraay Shore, PA HOUGHTAUNG GARAGE RR 02 MlSSlabury Cam ar, PA $ t ■*'