Spring 2007 Recap
The Block and Bridle Club of Virginia Tech has enjoyed a busy and productive Spring 2007 semester. From our National Convention trip to bright and sunny Florida in January to the rainy, crisp Blacksburg weather that greeted guests at our 85th Little International Livestock Contest, the club members and large pledge class have enjoyed promoting the livestock industry with their friends. We are proud to announce that the total number of participants for our five spring contests was 1,971 this year!
Little International Contest
The Alphin-Stuart Arena hosted the 85th annual Little International Contest on April 14 for Virginia Tech students interested in showing livestock. Participants selected from hogs, lambs, horses, and beef heifers for exhibition. Overall Grand Champion and Swine Grand Champion was Kiley Clevenger, while Overall Reserve Grand Champion and Sheep Grand Champion was Adam Heishman. Grand Champion in Beef was Amanda Lickey, and in Horse was Allison Osbourne. Alumni and visitors enjoyed Block and Bridle’s famous beef and pork BBQ for lunch along with the exciting competitions on the arena floor.
Little International Grand Champions on front row (L to R): Adam Heishman (Reserve Overall and Sheep), Allison Osbourne (Horse), Amanda Lickey (Beef), and Kiley Clevenger (Overall and Swine). Back and middle rows: Judges, Ringmen, Announcer, Chairman Allen Heishman, and Little I Princess Meghan Rice.
Pledging
We are excited to have almost 30 pledges joining our membership this spring. Their dedication and willingness to help has played a vital role in making all of our spring contests and other events successful. We would also like to thank them for hosting our first annual spring semi-formal and social, “Country but Classy,” following the Little International Contest on April 14.
Spring 2007 Pledge class at 8PM's
Hippology and Horse Judging Contests
The first annual B&B Hippology Contest was held on March 23 at the Alphin-Stuart Livestock Arena. 161 contestants made the inaugural event a success and we look forward to increasing participating during future years. Chairs for the Hippology contest were brother and sister team Cliff and Lindsey Williamson. Results of the Hippology Contest have been made available at: http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/horse/judgingclinics/HippologyResults.html
On March 24 B&B hosted our annual horse judging contest where 256 students were given the opportunity to evaluate and present oral reasons on various classes of horse breeds both in-hand and under saddle. The results of this contest can be accessed at: http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/horse/judgingclinics/results.html
Stockman’s, Meats and Livestock Judging Contests
The annual Stockman’s contest played host to 456 4-H and FFA participants on March 16. Both the Alphin-Stuart Livestock Arena and the older Judging Pavilion were used to evaluate students’ knowledge of various aspects of animal husbandry including equipment, feed, meat products, and livestock selection.
B&B Members sort contestant cards for scoring during the Stockman’s Contest.
The Meats Judging Contest, chaired by Luray, Virginia native Jonathan Burner, was held later the same evening and hosted 122 participants at the Food Science Building. This contest gave students the opportunity to evaluate whole pork and lamb carcasses as well as individual cuts of beef, lamb and pork. A meats ID section and written quiz were also used to evaluate the student’s knowledge of meat science.
4-H
and FFA contestants work on identifying various cuts of meat at the
Meats Judging Contest.
The Livestock Judging Contest on March 17 brought 397 contestants to the Alphin-Stuart Livestock Arena. While there, these students evaluated, placed and presented oral reasons on two classes of sheep and three classes each of cattle and swine. Matthew Earman chaired the successful 2007 Livestock Judging Contest.
4-H and FFA contestants handle sheep during the Livestock Judging Contest
The results for all three of these contests can be found under 2007 Block and Bridle Contests at: http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/livestock/results.html
Horse Judging Clinic
February 24 was the beginning of a busy season back in Blacksburg. 579 middle and high school students from around the greater New River Valley visited campus to learn the principles of horse judging and prepare for the up-coming judging season at our annual horse judging clinic, chaired by Charlotte Hatch. Morning lectures covered balance and breed conformation, giving oral reasons, note taking, blemishes and undesirable characteristics, performance class evaluation, and judging equitation. Evaluation of a stock horse halter class, a hunter under saddle class and an impromptu equitation class took place at the Alphin-Stuart Arena after a pizza lunch. Example sets of reasons were also given by past members of the VA State 4-H Horse Judging Team.
87th National Block and Bridle Convention: Florida
Virginia Tech was well represented at the 87th National Block and Bridle Club Convention sponsored by the University of Florida. The club advisors, Dr. Mark Wahlberg and Mr. Dave Linker of the Animal and Poultry Sciences Department, as well as Dr. Cindy Wood, the national Block and Bridle President, accompanied 25 students from Virginia Tech's Chapter to Kissimmee, Florida where the event was held on January 25-27.
After arriving Thursday afternoon, the convention kicked off with an address by the Florida Secretary of Agriculture and a social at which the attendees interacted with other Block and Bridle members from across the country. Members then spent Friday participating in one of ten tours that highlighted various aspects of Florida agriculture. These trips included segments of beef cattle operations, dairies, horse farms, fruit and citrus production, eco-tourism, and wildlife management. The convention continued on Saturday with educational speakers and seminars in addition to a recognition banquet.
The banquet finale was a grand conclusion to the weekend as the Virginia Tech Block and Bridle Club was recognized among the 567 delegates representing 42 colleges and universities. Chapter awards included second place in club activities and fourth place in club yearbook. Furthermore, Ed McCann took home fourth place in the individual awards for outstanding junior and Colleen Buckley received second place in the individual awards for outstanding two-year scholars. While there is no award for outstanding chapter, Virginia Tech was the only chapter to receive recognition in 4 different categories of competition.
Virginia Tech Block and Bridle members at the 87th Block and Bridle National Convention in Kissimmee, FL.