For the fifth straight year in 2005, Smithfield Foods sponsored two prominent national livestock judging contests. Each year since 2001, the company has donated $1,000 to both the National 4-H Livestock Contest and the National Collegiate Livestock Contest.

Livestock judging is the process of ranking a group of animals based on their conformity to the ideal for that species and then defending the choices in front of a panel of officials. Students from a variety of schools who participate in these contests gain important skills in logical thinking, decision making and oral presentation.

The events help to cultivate an interest in agricultural issues and give the participating students a lifelong appreciation of the industry. Smithfield became involved with judging contests in 2001 as a way to support young students from across the country that have an interest in agriculture, and also to help develop future leaders of the industry.

"The important thing is the young talent," said Jeff Luckman, vice president of livestock procurement. "These are people we may hire some point down the line."

In fact, the company has done just that. Luckman said that John Morrell, Packerland and Smithfield have all hired individuals that have participated in judging contests.

The 2005 event marked the 100th year of the National Collegiate Livestock Contest in Louisville, KY. Smithfield sponsored the prestigious Awards Breakfast, which is a traditional part of the program. At the breakfast, the winning team is presented with the Spoor Trophy, a bronze bull statue named for John A. Spoor, the first chairman of the International Livestock Exposition and president of the Chicago Stock Yard Company.

Almost 200 students from 28 schools participated in this year's Collegiate Contest. Oklahoma State was the winning team and Brandon Zahn of Texas A&M received the most points overall for an individual.