Academic Quadrathlon gives opportunities to USU students

Utah State University’s College of Agriculture took part in the Academic Quadrathlon hosted at USU on Nov. 27 and 28.

“It’s a national competition with the American Society of Animal Science,” said Brett Bowman, lecturer for the USU College of Agriculture and an organizer of the quadrathlon. “We are doing locals now. Whoever wins from locals will go to regions.  Whoever wins at regions goes onto nationals.”

The competition is made up of four segments: a written exam, an oral presentation or discussion, a practicum and a quiz bowl.

The written exam was comprised of 200 questions and each team was given two hours to complete it together.

The oral presentation required teams to study provided articles and graphs, specifically about the increasing average age of farmers, and then prepare and deliver a presentation about the information.

The practicum provided an opportunity for contestants to demonstrate their hands-on capabilities as they performed graded tasks with livestock in the all-day event.

The quiz bowl, modeled after the television show “Jeopardy!”, emphasized quick thinking as each team worked to correctly answer questions before their competitors.

“It’s all geared to test the knowledge they have acquired from their undergrad degree and hands on experience,” Bowman said. “It’s in relation to all livestock species, meat, and range. Anything from economics to business can be tested.”

It was the second time competing for Lauren Evans, a biology education major.

“It’s just a fun way to apply the knowledge you glean from all of your classes,” Evans said. “You have the opportunity to use that knowledge in a competitive atmosphere.”

Evans said the competition has been good experience for her. Her team finished in third place.

“I think it’s good to prepare students and to get them to participate in an extracurricular activity,” Evans said.

Jake Miller, a bio veterinary science major, competed for his first time this year.

“I will be applying for vet school this summer,” Miller said. “It will look good on my resume, plus it’s a good networking opportunity.”

Miller’s team won the local competition and will be competing at regions in June. Miller will continue to study the materials during the months before the next advancement of the quadrathlon.

Bowman said the competition is set up to help students with their future careers.

“The competition gives them that edge,” Bowman said. “It’s something to pad their resumes with and also good experience.”