Each summer, some of Florida’s brightest 4-H and FFA members make their way to Gainesville to sharpen their skills in livestock evaluation. This year marked the 10th anniversary of the UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences Livestock Judging Camp, and we couldn’t be more proud of how far this program has come. 
Since its start in 2015, the camp has provided a place for youth to build knowledge in livestock selection, oral reasons, and industry terminology. What began as a small initiative to give students extra judging experience has evolved into a multi-day event that draws participants from across Florida and even a few from neighboring states like Georgia.
“We saw there was a need to provide 4H and FFA members with an additional opportunity to work on their livestock evaluation and reasons skills. In the 10 years we have grown and adapted to create a format that provides a learning opportunity for participants of all experience levels”, said Mrs. Allyson Trimble, UF/IFAS Animal Sciences Academic Programs Specialist.
A Camp for All Experience Levels
This camp is designed for all experience levels and is divided into three tracks to meet students where they are. Beginning Basics is a one-day camp focused on the foundations of anatomy, breed identification, note-taking, and judging priorities. Intro to Reasons is a one-day session that teaches participants how to structure and deliver a solid set of oral reasons. Advanced Reasons is a two-and-a-half-day immersive camp designed for more experienced participants. Campers evaluated several classes and delivered about 20 sets of reasons throughout the event. Beginning Basics and Intro to Reasons overlapped on Wednesday, while Advanced Reasons took place from Thursday afternoon through Saturday. This structure allowed for a smooth learning transition for campers advancing their skills year to year.
Meet Our Camp Coaches
Current Livestock Judging Team members Leydializ Aviles, McKenzie Locke, Jasmyn Billano, and Allison Bennett, future Livestock Judging Team members Aubrey Reppert and Gracie Fletcher, and volunteeer Clayton Brauman coached this year’s camp. We are incredibly grateful for their dedicated support, feedback, and encouragement to every camper. Thank you all for the time and talent you each brought to this year’s camp!
Full Circle Moments and Future Gators
One of the most rewarding parts of this camp is seeing returning students improve and grow. Many have attended year after year, and their progress is nothing short of inspiring. This year, we experienced a “full circle” moment as two current UF Livestock Judging Team members who once attended this camp as FFA members returned as camp coaches to teach the next generation.
The camp also serves as a valuable recruitment opportunity. It’s a chance to meet prospective students and introduce them to the Animal Sciences department and UF’s nationally recognized judging team.
We would like to thank those from our department who helped with camp logistics, setup, and instruction: Kyle Mendes, Allyson Trimble, Chad Carr, Amie Imler, Thachary Mayer, and Saundra TenBroeck.
Congratulations to Our Contest Winners!
The camp concluded with a contest that gave participants a chance to put their skills to the test. Congratulations to our top individuals!
Advanced Division:
- High Individual: Madison Stein – Alachua
- Reserve: Adelyne Ruiz – Citra
- Third: Kelsey Reddish – Apopka
- Fourth: Lillie Salerno – Tampa
- Fifth: Julie Portillo – DeLand
Novice Division:
- High Individual: Isaac Short – Miami
- Reserve: Grace Box – Orlando
- Third: Anika Benfant – Orlando
Community Collaboration
We also extend a huge thank you to the livestock suppliers who generously provided quality animals for our students to evaluate:
- UF Sheep Unit
- UF Beef Teaching Unit
- CK2 Show Pigs – Kyle Mendes
- Sacred Silence Farms – Dr. Faith Hughes
- Roger’s Livestock – Wade Roger’s
- 3D Boer Goats – Nicholas Domingo
- Gulf Coast Cattle – Jerry Mullins
Special appreciation to Lizzie Whitehead (Bradford County Extension) and Jessica Cooper (Gilchrist County Extension) for their teaching contributions to the Beginning Basics camp. Their expertise helped lay a solid foundation for our younger and newer participants.
As we reflect on a decade of camp, we’re reminded that livestock judging is more than evaluating animals it’s about building confidence, critical thinking, and communication skills that last a lifetime. Here’s to the next 10 years of learning, leading, and judging!
See you next spring!
Find more information about the UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences on our website. Stay in touch with us on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Read more on UF/IFAS ANS here: http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/animalsciencesdept/. Follow more ANS Youth Extension events on our website: https://animal.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/youth/.
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