In June, Solanco FFA's dairy judging team placed second in the state competition at Penn State University, qualifying it to compete in the eastern states competition in Massachusetts. The event, which is known as the Big E fair, will take place on Friday, Sept. 15, and Saturday, Sept. 16.

In the year leading up to the state competition, the members of the dairy judging team convened weekly to prepare by studying together. Solanco High School students Kyrsten Byers, Addison O'Donnell, Brooke Jennings and Keeley Kreider reviewed dairy industry vocabulary and terminology, and they frequently visited local farms to practice judging dairy cows.

On the first day of the state competition, each team member individually took a test that evaluated her knowledge of topics such as bovine anatomy, diet, and illnesses. After the individual assessment, the team participated in a group activity that entailed solving a specific issue on a dairy farm. This year, the group was tasked with finding a solution for a farm that was experiencing production issues; the students put their heads together to analyze each piece of the farm's operation to determine the root of the problem. After concluding that the issue stemmed from a lack of proper feed, the group presented its solution to two judges, and the team members answered questions on their approach.

On the second day of the competition, the team visited the campus's barn to judge multiple classes of cows. The students judged six cows in total, and they explained their placement decisions by providing their reasoning to a panel of judges. To earn extra points, the members of the team memorized their explanations of the placements. When judging the cows, the students primarily looked at each animal's mammary system and physical characteristics, such as adequate veining and teat placement. By analyzing the cows' physical attributes, the team members were able to determine which cows would produce the highest volume of milk on a dairy farm.

"I knew nothing about dairy judging until this year," said Jennings, Solanco FFA president. "I was drawn to it because I loved learning about cows, and I had a lot of faith that we would do well at the competition."

The dairy judging team is currently preparing for the Big E fair, where it will compete against FFA teams from across the eastern region. The event will involve similar activities to test the students' knowledge and ability to accurately judge various bovine classes. "(To prepare,) I personally will spend more time looking through vocabulary and style guides," said Byers. "I look forward to being able to see dairy judging taken to a whole new level."