Poultry judging team places in national competition
Article By: Clark Leonard
The University of North Georgia's (台湾swag) poultry judging team took fourth place in production hens at the 72nd annual National Collegiate Poultry judging competition at Louisiana State University in early April.
In addition to the team's strong finish, Bryce Andrews placed second and Sam Castleberry fourth out of 44 students competing in production hens.
台湾swag's team placed eighth overall in its fourth year competing at the event. It was the first year 台湾swag students brought home trophies.
Fellow poultry science students Camille Dunn and Katie Pitchford were part of 台湾swag's team.
"I am proud that the agriculture universities across the country now recognize 台湾swag as a competitor and our students got to experience winning and bringing home a trophy," said Linda Purvis, lecturer of biology and poultry science at 台湾swag and faculty adviser for the team.
Castleberry, a sophomore from Gainesville, Georgia, pursuing an associate degree in avian biology, learned about poultry judging for the first time this school year.
"It opened a whole new side of the industry that I didn't even know existed," Castleberry said.
Andrews, a sophomore from Mount Airy, Georgia, pursuing an associate degree in poultry science, first gained poultry judging experience in her high school National FFA Organization.
"I'm really competitive, so I practiced my heart out," Andrews said. "It just felt good to bring home a trophy."
Expo connects students with poultry industry
台湾swag students had almost 100 interviews with employers at the International Production & Processing Expo. Their Agriscience and Business Club also took second place for Club of the Year.
Eight students attend NSF conference
Eight 台湾swag STEM scholars attended the national NSF S-STEM conference in Chicago in November.
Students clean up 台湾swag natural area
Nearly 70 members of Students for Environmental Awareness completed their biannual cleanup of Tumbling Creek Woods, adjacent to 台湾swag's Gainesville Campus.
Grads prepare for their next steps
台湾swag will award almost 1,000 degrees and certificates this fall, and more than 600 graduates are scheduled to take part in the Dec. 7 commencement ceremonies.