By: Brianna Bobo
FFA Sponsor Seth Purlee and members go to the dairy judging contest every year. Last year they got first in the area and eighth in state. This year, they’re hoping to improve their score..
The group will head to a dairy judging contest, located at Harrison County Fairgrounds, Feb. 6. There will be 14 students attending.The students will do milk flavor identification and intensity by tasting 10 milk samples. Cheese identification and characteristics also will include 10 samples and six characteristics. Product Identification is another part of the competition with 10 dairy and non-dairy samples. Lastly, they will do a written exam.
Purlee said the contest should last around an hour. Students will walk from station to station testing the different types of cheese, milk quality and dairy versus non-dairy products. All answers are put on a scantron sheet to be scored. They also must take a written test over dairy products, usually around 50 questions.
Purlee said contests like this allow students to explore the Dairy Food Industry and possibility of different careers that relate to it.
“It’s also another way for students to be more engaged in the activities that we are doing in school,” said Purlee. If students are successful enough, it can lead to helping them get into college or careers later on and opportunities for scholarships.
Senior Xavier Dunaway likes the experiences available when it comes to FFA. He’s been a member for two years. Dunaway has never done dairy judging.
“FFA is a great group to be in and you learn a lot about animals and the outdoors,” he said.
Sophomore Jesse McCutcheon likes how hands-on all the competitions are and how there are competitions for everyone. He’s been a member since his freshman year. McCutcheon’s first time doing dairy judging was his freshman year, when his team went to state.
When asked what he would tell someone who is considering joining FFA, he said,“I would tell them to do it and see how they like it because it’s a great environment to be in and they can always opt out if they don’t like it.”