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UWRF Students Test Agriculture Knowledge at Academic Quadrathlon

By Kendra Knutson
FEB. 23, 2007--Forty-four undergraduate students from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls recently demonstrated their knowledge of agriculture at the annual two-day Academic Quadrathlon on Feb. 7 and 10 at UWRF. The winning UWRF team took first place in all but one category.  

Students participated in teams of four as they demonstrated their knowledge of animal science, dairy science, equine science, poultry science and small animal science. Teams competed in four categories including: a written exam, lab practicum exam, an extemporaneous oral presentation on a current issue and a quiz bowl competition. Each team received a placing in every category. All placings were then added together. In order to win the entire event, a team must have the lowest overall score.  

The written exam included questions on nutrition, reproduction, meat products, equine, physiology, dairy and genetics.   The quiz bowl competition had a variety of quick answer questions on the same topics.

This year the lab practicum section was held at the University of Minnesota where students had an opportunity to apply their knowledge. Multiple stations were set up including: breed identification, proper identification and use of tools, meat grading, ration compilation, and selection of replacement animals.  

The oral presentation topic this year was: "What do you believe will be the most important animal protein product in 2025, based off of current developments such as ethanol production, GMO's (genetically modified organisms), and conservation of water and energy?" Teams were given a brief amount of time to formulate their speeches and present them before a panel of judges.  

The top-scoring UWRF team consisting of Adam Ward, a senior dairy science major from Arpin, Wis., Patrick Wiltzius, a senior majoring in dairy science from Ripon, Wis., Kate LeVasseur, a senior animal science major from Plover, Wis., and John Schneider, a senior majoring in animal science from Black Creek, Wis., earned a trip to the regional Midwest Academic Quadrathlon in Des Moines, Iowa on March 18-19, which is held in conjunction with the 2007 joint meeting of the American Society for Animal Science and the American Dairy Science Association.   

According to first year participant Schneider, their team entered the competition with high-quality basic knowledge and not much special preparation. "For the next AQ we might spend some time studying breeds of certain species that were difficult for us at the lab practicum in Minnesota," said Schneider. "It was a good experience and I recommend that others try to join a team in the future."

Taking second place in the competition was the UWRF team composed of sophomore dairy science majors including: Andrew DeVries, Brandon, Wis., Michael Mueller, Edgar, Wis., Terri Hastreiter, Reedsville, Wis., and Emily Wagner, Baraboo, Wis.  

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