Virginia Students Compete in 2024 Skyline Stockmen’s Contest for Superior Agricultural Acumen

On Saturday, February 3, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., one hundred ninety-two youth participants from all over Virginia who had registered for the 2024 Skyline Stockmen’s Contest converged on the Livestock Market, located on Route 619, to compete in a contest of agricultural acumen. Their knowledge of livestock was tested, and the best of the best were awarded. Both Warren County high schools were represented at this event.

1/2: Students from all over Virginia gather at Livestock Market to compete in a contest for agricultural knowledge. (Above) students rotate between the auditorium, where they answer exam questions under the watchful eye of Livestock Market partner in ownership Ken Matthews, and (below) a space for livestock where they identify important livestock assets ranging from meat cuts and hay to equipment. Royal Examiner photo credits: Brenden McHugh.

Under the umbrella of the Virginia Cooperative Extension in connection with Virginia Tech, this contest has been a yearly event for roughly fifteen years and has always been made possible by the hospitality of Rick Matthews and his family. Rick owns Livestock Market in partnership with his son Ken. It was Ken who monitored students as they completed exam questions in an auditorium that smelled of fresh sawdust. Livestock were ushered into the exam space to be the subject of question and answer. In the livestock holding space beyond the auditorium, students identified a few livestock assets ranging from meat cuts and hay to equipment. To facilitate the event, students were rotated between the auditorium and the holding space.

This judging show covered most livestock species: beef cattle, goats, swine, and sheep. Also, the Warren County 4-H Extension Office was highly involved in facilitating the event. “It’s really a community effort to come together and put on the event,” said Warren County High School Agriculture Teacher Lee Meadows. “You have a wide range of interests with the kids,” she said. “Some kids want to become a veterinarian. And so, they’re coming here to learn about everything related to those livestock animals because if they end up as a large animal vet, they’ll need to know those things as background knowledge. But it’s also preparing these kids if they work in any industry related to agribusiness, agriculture, animal systems, plant systems, anything food related even … so, it’s really a broad range of knowledge that could prepare them for almost any career related to what we eat, taking care of animals, farming, etc. The world population is continuing to grow, and we have to get more efficient with what we’re producing, and this is the start for those kids to learn those things.”

(Above) the top ten junior winners, tenth to first starting from (L) to (R): Conner Cline, Ethan Smith, Kendal Ballenger, Hayden Mundy, Liz Somers, Daven Smith, Hailey Ballenger, Kaid Altman, Bryar Swecker, Sutton Swecker, and (below) the top ten senior winners, tenth to first starting from (L) to (R): Emma Wisecarver, Jeb Hall, Liam Morris, Ashley Tutwiler, Emory Seal, Landon Marshall, Keller Cooley, Clay Jackson, Ruth Haile, Allison Rhodes. Photo credits courtesy of Warren County 4-H Extension Office.

New to the scene is Emily Shultz, whom Warren County 4-H recently welcomed to work in their ranks as an Associate Extension Agent. She brings with her experience from working for three years as a 4-H agent in Nebraska and she also brings with her enthusiasm for all the young people with whom she engages. This contest is an important aspect of her many responsibilities, which range from after-school programs to the county fair to 4-H camp for which preparations are already underway.