West Virginia Career Development Events

Use of Technology in WV Career Development Events

The use of all electronic devices; including but not limited to cell phones, BlackBerries, PDAs, MP3 players, programmable calculators; are prohibited during all West Virginia Career Development Events. If an event requires the use of calculators, the event coordinator will provide exact specifications on the type(s) of devices (including functions) that will be permitted.

Failure to comply with this regulation will result in the elimination of the entire team from competition. A letter will be sent to the school principal and superintendent by the state staff detailing the reasons for the dismissal.

Use of Reference Materials in WV Career Development Events

Students participating in West Virginia Career Development Events are prohibited from bringing reference materials, paper, and/or other aids into the contest area unless the materials/aids are specified by the event coordinators in the official rules and regulations. The exception, all students are permitted to use a standard clipboard. Cover sheets will be provided for all contestants in all contests. Contestants participating in contests with oral reasons will be provided two sheets of unlined white paper to take notes.

Teams of Less than Three Members

Students may compete in a Career Development Event even if their school does not have a full team (3 or 4 members). If a school has less than 3 team members, the students are only eligible for individual awards. A school may enter only one team (maximum 4 students) per event. (Passed 11/6/2006)

Livestock

Animal and Veterinary Science Division will present to the winning team a plaque which becomes the permanent property of the winning school. Tie breaker for the contest will be oral reasons.

RULES

Livestock classes to be judged:

Swine

Crossbred breeding gilts
Crossbred market hogs

Beef

Angus or Hereford breeding heifers
Crossbred market steers
Feeder Cattle
Keep-Cull class of Breeding Heifers

Sheep (Animals may or may not be handled, depending upon the availability of farm help to shear the animals.)

Suffolk breeding ewes
Crossbred market lambs

Performance data and conformation will be used in placing the Keep-Cull class.

Each class of livestock will consist of four individuals, except the Keep-Cull class of breeding heifers which will consist of eight.
Every team must be prepared to judge every class or ring of livestock listed.
Scantron sheets and/or Placing cards will be supplied by the Animal and Veterinary Science personnel. The same scantron sheet/ placing card will be used for all livestock classes. See sample card.
Coaches must prepare their teams to use the Scantron Sheets. From the time of entering the contest until all cards have been handed to the person in charge, there will be absolutely no communications among contestants, or between coaches and contestants.
Twelve minutes will be allowed for placing non-reason classes and fifteen minutes for placing of reason classes.
Contestants will be required to give oral reasons on the two classes (worth 50 points each) and answer five questions on one class (worth 50 points). Each contestant will be allowed a maximum of two minutes per class to present his/her reasons. Cards will not be returned at oral reason presentation.

Sample Questions:

Which breeding gilt in the class was a Duroc? (Answer = #3)
Which breeding gilt in the class had erect ears? (Answer = #2)
Which breeding gilt was lame? (Answer = #3)

Stock will be judged at the Livestock Farm. Scoring will be based on the Hormel Computing System with 50 points being a perfect score on a class placing or on a set or oral reasons. A perfect score of 50 for Keep-Cull cattle will make it possible to earn 500 points per student.
Five points will be deducted from the placing score for misspelling of breed name.
After all classes have been placed, cards handed in, and reasons given, the judges in charge will give the placings and reasons for each class to each contestant and coach if time permits.
Only those participating in the contest shall be permitted on the farm, unless his/her assistance is required to facilitate the contest, serve as a holder or group leader, or is in some way helping with the contest.

For Feeder Cattle Grading, the contestant is to place a check mark in the proper grade standard for Frame Size and a check mark in the grade standard for Muscle Thickness. No cattle over 36 months of age will be used. Perfect score is 50 points.

SCORING:

6 points will be allowed for the correct frame size.
2 points will be allowed if the animal is graded - one grade above or one grade below the correct frame size.
4 points will be allowed if the correct muscle thickness is identified.
2 points will be allowed if the animal is graded - one grade
above or one grade below the correct muscle thickness.

Keep‑Cull Angus Heifer Class (100 points) SAMPLE INFORMATION

You will CULL 4 heifers ‑ Place the numbers of the heifer you CULL on the judging card in any order you wish.

Ear Tag/ No	Brand	EPD’s
Ear Tag/ No	Brand	DOB	BW	WW	YW	Milk

1	051	2/01/00	1.1	31	61	13
2	055	2/24/00	1.4	33	73	17
3	059	3/05/00	2.2	36	66	21
4	063	3/10/00	1.8	30	59	17
5	071	3/16/00	3.8	38	72	23
6	073	3/19/00	2.5	39	67	21
7	077	3/23/00	3.4	38	65	20
8	079	3/27/00	2.1	39	67	21
Breed Average			2.7	33	61	16

Scenario: Evaluate these heifers as potential replacements for a purebred operation whose goal is to produce moderate framed, functional cattle that have a balance in EPD's. Bulls are sold annually in a bull sale that targets commercial producers. Feed and labor resources are moderate.

Scoresheet