The Murray State College livestock judging camp is helping young agriculturalists build foundational industry knowledge, confidence, and critical life skills while introducing them to opportunities on campus. Farm Report Intern Presley Strickland spoke with Murray State livestock judging coach Brett Forgy to discuss how the three-day event hosts youth ages 9 to 18 for a comprehensive, hands-on experience designed to develop the next generation of stockmen.
Developing Industry Knowledge and Confidence
Forgy explained that the primary motivation behind hosting the camp is expanding community outreach and growing the college’s agriculture program. By bringing young livestock enthusiasts to campus, the program aims to build essential judging skills while showcasing what Murray State has to offer.
Beyond basic evaluation techniques, the camp focuses on core agricultural concepts:
- Understanding livestock anatomy and industry standards.
- Evaluating market and breeding animals to determine practical value.
- Formulating and presenting professional oral sets of reasons to defend placement decisions.
While technical training is a major component, Forgy emphasized that helping participants enjoy the process remains the top priority, ensuring youth stay engaged and passionate about the livestock industry long-term.
Inside a Day at Murray State Livestock Judging Camp
The three-day schedule balances intensive classroom instruction with direct, practical experience. Campers start early with breakfast at 7:00 a.m. before diving into species-specific lectures in the agricultural building classrooms.
Following classroom instruction, participants break out into smaller groups for tailored, hands-on activities, including class evaluation and individual reasons practice. After lunch, the group transitions to the college farm for live evaluation classes featuring real-world livestock.
The day wraps up with evening meal gatherings, reason presentations, and recreational activities such as basketball, kickball, and “Ag Olympics” to foster team bonding before lights out.
Mentorship and Practical Life Skills
To ensure individualized attention, Murray State maintains a low participant-to-instructor ratio. Forgy and members of the college livestock judging team work directly with campers, placing three to four collegiate team members with each breakout group—roughly a 1-to-2 mentor-to-student ratio during reason sessions.
In addition to evaluation mechanics, Forgy highlighted the broader personal development that comes with livestock judging:
- Decisiveness and Conviction: Learning to evaluate a class and make firm, independent decisions under pressure.
- Public Speaking: Developing clear, structured oral arguments to defend placements in a professional and timely manner.
- Career Readiness: Building self-confidence and communication abilities applicable to any future professional endeavor.
Forgy noted that while watching students succeed in the arena is rewarding, his most memorable moments as a coach come from seeing his livestock judging team members graduate and successfully transition to four-year universities to continue their education and agricultural careers.
