OSU’s Big Three Field Days

The Big Three Field Days are summer livestock field days covering beef, sheep and swine. Approximately $3,500 in scholarships and more than 100 awards were given out this year.

Participants came from Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Arizona and Texas.

“The Big Three Field Days are primarily an educational event to expose youth to livestock evaluation. It features a different species of livestock each day,” said Rusty Gosz, OSU animal science Extension youth livestock specialist. “All the factors that go into livestock selection ultimately impact some aspect our food supply.  It’s very important that we teach – particularly our young producers – the critical aspects of livestock evaluation so they can implement those skills in future years in the livestock industry.  In addition to selection and evaluation skills, youth are perhaps more benefited from competing and learning other life skills like decision making, critical thinking skills, and teamwork that will affect all aspects of life whether they pursue a career in agriculture or not.”

This year’s livestock judging contests were paired with public speaking contests, career exploration workshops, judging clinics and educational tours to expose students to all aspects of the animal science discipline and opportunities at OSU.

“A relatively new addition to the field days is the ‘Best of the Best Reasons Challenge,’” Gosz said. “It’s an oral reasons competition that really gives students the opportunity to showcase their oral reasons ability to some of Oklahoman’s industry leaders.”

The Big Three Field Days also serves as a great recruiting venture for OSU.

“The Field Days exposes a large number of agriculturally interested students to a diversity of programs, activities and facilities and most importantly the faculty and staff within the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources,” Gosz said.

The first Field Days date back to 1954 where the first swine day was held. In 1987, sheep and beef were added to make it the Big Three Field Days.

“Depending on how you define Field Days, they have been a piece of Oklahoma State University history for 63 years, making it one of the most time-honored events on campus.” Gosz said.

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CUTLINE:
Hayden Bell, Madill FFA, judges and places this class of sheep at Oklahoma State University Big Three Field Days held at OSU’s Animal Science Arena.

Katie L. Reim
Communications Specialist
Agricultural Communications Services
140 Agriculture North
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, Ok 74078
405-744-6792 (Phone)
405-744-5739 (Fax)
katie.reim@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local Governments Cooperating: The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or status as a veteran, and is an equal opportunity employer.