Their detailed knowledge of animal agriculture and issues was matched against teams throughout the southern region. After three hard days of competition in four skill areas, the student team from the University of Kentucky Animal Sciences Department went home champions.

The team competed in the Academic Quadrathlon held in conjunction with the Southern Section American Society of Animal Science meeting in Oklahoma .  Its victory was no small accomplishment. 

The quadrathlon was divided into four parts: a practical; a written exam; an oral presentation; and a quiz bowl.

“On the first day teams were required to complete a series of 15-minute tasks at each of 10 units and this practical covered everything from selection and evaluation to reproductive physiology,” said Debra Aaron, animal sciences faculty member and co-advisor with faculty member Don Ely.

The written exam covered a wide range of animal science subjects, and the oral presentation component tested verbal and organizational skills. A double-elimination quiz bowl tested the student’s quick recall of animal science facts.

“Student teams had to be knowledgeable about a variety of breeds and species, including beef cattle, dairy cattle, horses, poultry, sheep and swine,” Aaron said. 

UK Quadrathlon team members are Bryan Carroll of Vine Grove, John Allen Mason of Paris, Lauren Griggs Mitchell of Midway, and Jackie Slovick of Schaumburg , Illinois . They placed second in the practical and first in the written exam, oral presentation and quiz bowl for a first place overall.

Oklahoma State University earned second overall, and Mississippi State University placed third overall.  Since the competition was established in 1984, the UK team has earned six overall wins – more than any other university in the southern region.

The team now will compete against other regional winners at the National Quiz Bowl held in conjunction with the National Cattlemens’ Beef Association meetings in Texas.