814-Umcastsr Farming, Saturday, November 11, 1995 With An Eye On NAILE, Team ANDY ANDREWS Lancaster Farming Staff MAN HEIM (Lancaster Co.) Livestock judging teams know there are “moments of truth.” For Regina Landis, it is the nerve-wracking silence that is mandatory for participants during the entire length of the judging contest. For Lisa Reiff, it is the trial of enduring competition during the state 4-H Days, a prerequisite for national competition, held last July. For Dale Livengood, it is the breed competition “scenarios” that test your knowledge of expected progency differences (EPDs) and how to fit that know ledge into actual practice during the judging event. For Gerald Boyd, it is judging beef that can really test his nerves. All four of the Lancaster County 4-H Livestock Judging Team members have to face these special trials during competition at the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, Nov. 14. While the team travels to Louis ville, members will practice on selected farms enroute, brushing up on their judging and reasoning skills. Practice farms are scattered throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky. The group will stop at Ohio State University and the University of Kentucky. Also, the team will tour Churchhill Downs, the Louisville Slugger Plant, and Thoroughbred horse farms in Lexington. The contest itself consists of judging 10 classes of livestock (beef, sheep, and swine) and includes tests on performance data, oral reasons, and questions. All of the Lancaster County members face even more difficult odds because Pennsylvania last won the overall contest in 1961. The team averages 8.5 years of involvement in 4-H clubs. As a result, each has participated in a wide array of events, garnered many ribbons, and developed in a way that makes them contenders for the NAILE crown. “I’ve been around pigs and I know what they’re like.’ ’ said Ger ald Boyd. Gerald has exhibited many champion hogs in county fairs since joining 4-H nine years ago. Gerald, 17, the son of Kerry and Deb Boyd, Ephrata, said that he has shown sheep and dairy, but hogs are special. Gerald attends fphrata High School. For Regina Landis, sheep are Raglna said that although tha taam works togethsr to soiva soma waaknessas In thalr Judging and reasoning afforts, sha Is still working to hnprova har strengths in tha hog Judging classas. her strengths. Regina said she’s been showing for eight years. Regina said that although the team works together to solve some weaknesses in their judging and reasoning efforts, she is still work ing to improve her strengths in the hog judging classes. Regina. 16, daughter of Abram and Dottle Landis, Manheim, a 4-H’cr for eight years, said, “I don’t like judging swine, but it’s not my worst area. But that’s the thing I dread more than anything —the hog classes. I did show hogs for two years bull’d rather be deal ing with sheep or beef.” Regina attends Lancaster Mennonite High School Lisa Reiff dreads the silence the most. During competition, “there’s not supposed to be any talking, so it’s sort of hard for me to deal with that,” she said. Lisa, 17, daughter of Lloyd and Laura Reiff, Strasburg, said not being able to talk during competition is so hard because “I like to let my feelings out and talk.” For Lisa, nine-year 4-H mem ber, judging is more difficult but giving reasons is her forte. Lisa attends Lampeter-Strasburg High School. Dale Livengood said he scores best at beef judging with experi ence from showing at county fairs. He said he’s been doing well at beef judging and giving reasons. “I'm not the best on the team. But I enjoy beef judging." A challenge for Dale is provid ing reasons and judging for breed ing ewes, said Dale. 17, son of Earl and Joyce Livengood, Lancaster. The eight-year 4-H member attends Faith Mennonite High School. One of the biggest challenges for Lisa Rciff was the recent Pen nsylvania 4-H Achievement Days held the last week in July. The team faced the most pressure than any contest at that event because it was a requirement to move onto national competition. For the team, this is especially challenging now that school is in session, and it becomes difficult to juggle schedules and work out the times to be on the road, attending competition or practicing during the weekday. During NAILE competition, the team takes down notes and has to memorize them within 10-15 minutes. Then, alone, they face the judges and have to give their rea sons for the placement But the team is never certain about what to expect when they arrive at the contest To them. scores bast at bsaf Judging with axparfanoa from show ing at county fairs. Ha said ha’s baan doing wall at baaf Judging and giving reasons. “I’m not tha bast on tha taam. But I anjoy baaf Judging.” Prepares To Hammer Home A Championship White the Mam travels to Louisville, members wilt practice on selected farms enroute, brushing up on their Judging and reasoning skills. Practice farms are seat* tered throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky. The group will stop at Ohio State University and the University of Kentucky. Also, the team will tour Churchhlll Downs, the Louisville Slugger Plant, and Thoroughbred horse farms In Lexington. Lancaster County 4-H Livestock Judging loam mem bars will be traveling to com* pete et the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) In Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, Nov. 14. At the Landis Farm, the team Inspects a Hampshire ewe lamb. From left, Dale Livengood, Lisa Reiff, Gerald Boyd, and Regina Landis. enduring a scenario is challenging because they have to understand what EPDs and other traits will mean to solving the challenge placed by the judges. Recently, the team practiced at the farm of Regina Landis in Man heim. Team members were judg ing Hampshire ewe lambs and pre sented with a “scenario,” includ ing a breakdown of genetic evaluations of the flock. But the endless practices are often like trying to study for a scholastic aptitude test—it’s hard to prepare for a quiz in science when the questions could be about psychology or geography. “You never know what you can expect when you get into the con test,” said Liu. This year, the team placed first at the Penn State Block and Bridle contest in March, the Delaware Valley Block and Bridle contest in April, the York County Livestock Contest in July, the state 4-H Achievement Days in July, and the Eastern States Exposition in Sep tember. The team placed second at the Southeast Regional 4-H Lives tock Contest in July and second at the Eastern National Livstock Show in September. Farm Safety Camp LEWISBURG (Union. Co.) —160 youth participated in a Farm Safety Camp on October 14, at the Beaver Fairgrounds, Beaver Springs, hosted by Penn State Cooperative Extension with spon sorship by Capital Blue Cross and Pennsylvania Blue Shield. The children had a fun-filled day learning serious safety infor mation in livestock handling, A TV riding, tractor driving, pesti cide precautions, operating lawn Chet Hughes, coach and county livestock agent, said this was the 15th group he has taken to the NAILE since he began work at the extension office in 1982. Team coaches are Hughes, Greg Musser, Fred Weaver, Margaret Diffen bach, and Mark Campbell. mowers, first aid, fire prevention, hazard awareness around manure pits and ponds, PTO and com picker entanglements, and dangers of playing in gravity flow wagons. Strong support from the community—businesses, agricul tural groups and health organiza tions created a memorable program—one that will improve each child’s safe future on the farm.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers