Chico >> Thousands of people gathered at the University Farm on Saturday, but it was so quiet you could hear birds and cows in the distant fields.
The event was the FFA Field Day, which brings student competitors from throughout California, Oregon and Washington. All wore blue FFA jackets, with their town of origin written in yellow lettering.
The 22 competitions are a big deal, explained Ashley Pipkin, a cochair of the event, put on by Chico State University and Butte College, colleges of agriculture.
Competitors spend months in preparation, usually in groups. Yet, once the event begins, the students are left alone with their note pads and answer sheets.
Many of the competitions include judging animals, cuts of meat, plants, soil etc.
In a sense, they are being judged on how accurately they have judged.
In the barn at the University Farm, students looked at several swine in a pen, each noting the animals' characteristics. After time is up, they'll turn in their score cards. Later, the students have two minutes to explain their answers to competition judges, Pipkin explained.
In the poultry competitions, students will hold eggs up to the light to rate them for quality and size, as well as evaluate the quality of the hens.
The competition is fairly intense, explained livestock chair Sierra Meyers, who was stationed in the barn.
Winners from the field day in Chico will compete in another round held in Fresno in April, and later the national competition.
In addition to being a fun, if quiet, competition, the events are good for career preparation, Pipkin said.
Many FFA students enter animals into county fairs. The event will help them prepare and choose animals for show.
For the long-term, if their career choice is raising livestock, the skills will prove invaluable. Also, experience through field days, and hopefully awards, helps land scholarships and internships, Pipkin said.
Simply taking part helps teach critical thinking skills and the ability to clearly state ideas during oral presentations, Meyers explained. When she was in high school, she studied for the events every day.
Over at the welding and electrical competitions, the students also competed silently, but the enclosed buildings were filled with noise. Hands moved quickly to demonstrate skill at setting up and testing an electrical board. Another contest included identifying tools.
Some of the students may go into careers as contractors. Yet, learning how to solve problems is a skill needed for any job, or just life, said Russell Pitter, a contest chairman.
Amber Renardo, a senior at Chico State, was in charge of the competitions at the meat lab. Students wearing white lab coats quietly noted the quality and characteristics of cuts of meat. Renardo opened several doors to cooling compartments. Inside students contemplated cow and pig carcasses, which hung from the ceiling.
In the main farm pavilion, rows of demonstration posters were part of the competition. The format is similar to what people see at county fairs.
Contact Heather Hacking at 896-7758.