The Blinn College District Agricultural Sciences Department has found a new way to host its popular livestock judging camp – and even expand it to a broader audience.
Blinn’s virtual livestock judging camp, taking place June 8-10, is believed to be one of the first of its kind in the nation.
“It’s going to be very similar to what we have done in the past – just online,” Livestock Judging Coach Brice Mund said. “Hopefully we can go back to doing our face-to-face camps very soon, but in the short term, it will give these kids something to look forward to and can bring a little bit of enjoyment.”
Blinn has partnered with Judge 2 Win, an innovative online service that provides livestock judging training tools. The company is co-owned by Hayden Brown, an alumnus of Blinn’s Agricultural Sciences Program and award-winning livestock judging team. Mund said Blinn’s camp will utilize Judge 2 Win’s “platform and technology” but will add a local touch by using department instructors.
Open to ages 8-18, the camp will utilize sessions recorded by Judge 2 Win and Blinn Agricultural Sciences instructors. There will be two sessions – one for novice livestock judges and a second for experienced judges.
“Judge 2 Win has a database of thousands of animals that we can pick from for our lectures,” Mund said. “There also will be a live feed, utilizing technology to connect with the kids.”
Day One of the camp will focus on cattle. Day Two will feature swine in the morning and sheep and goats in the afternoon. The third day will be set aside for a judging contest for campers.
Mund said this year’s camp will use virtual tours to showcase the W.J. “Bill” Rankin Agricultural Complex and a new 6,000 square-foot building that opened earlier this year, as well as the entire Brenham Campus.
“The hope is that we will be able to give those kids who may live a little farther away a chance to see exactly what we have to offer,” he said. “Every year, we have had 20 or so who come from out-of-state. We have had them come from every corner of the United States, including California, Washington, Florida, and North Carolina. This is going to give us a bit more range to expand that brand even further.”
Camp registration is $150, which includes apparel and a camp book. The deadline to register is Monday, June 1. Registration forms and information are available at www.blinn.edu/livestock-judging-camp.
“It’s something that is definitely unique and different and kind of fresh for everybody,” Mund said. “We are excited to be on the front lines of that.”