The Effingham County High School FFA livestock judging team recently competed in the Area IV FFA Livestock Judging Career Development Event.

The event was held at Southern Pines Agriculture and Expo Center in Dublin on Dec. 2.

The Livestock Judging Career Development Event allows agricultural education students the opportunity to make accurate observations of livestock, determine the desirable traits in animals, make logical decisions based on their observations, and discuss and defend those decisions.

Participants place classes of breeding and market beef, sheep, goats, and swine, and then give oral reasons to the judges as to why they placed each class as they did. Team members include Austin Beard, fourth high individual, Dalton Dixon, Evan Lastinger, Amber Miller, Macy Smith, and Carlie Sheppard, fifth high individual.

FFA is a national organization of 610,240 members preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture.

FFA is an integral part of the agricultural education program in public schools. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

Meredith Arrington is the Effingham County High School FFA advisor and livestock judging team coach.