AFGC Competition

The UGA Department of Animal and Dairy Science was well represented at the 2022 American Forage and Grassland Council Winter Conference held in Wichita, Kansas. Justin Burt (Ph.D. Candidate) and Kendall Whatley (MS student), students in Dr. Jennifer Tucker’s Beef-Forage program on the UGA-Tifton Campus, presented their research during the AFGC Emerging Scientist Competition at this meeting. Participants in this competition can be at any level of their collegiate training up to one-year post completion of their last degree and hold an academic rank no higher than assistant professor. Participants are nominated by an AFGC member and are chosen based on the quality of research in a written summary, speaking experience, academic achievements, and participation in professional activities. Due to the large number of nominations received in recent years the competition has been divided to include both a poster and an oral presentation competition.

• UGA brought home top honors in both divisions with Justin Burt placing 1st in the Emerging Scientist Oral Student competition presenting on a portion of his dissertation research “Evaluation of Harvest Management Strategies and Impacts on Animal and Stand Performance in Alfalfa-Bermudagrass Mixtures in the Southeast.” Justin’s work is supported by the USDA-NIFA Alfalfa Forage and Research Program.
• Kendall Whatley took home 1st place in the Emerging Scientist Poster Student competition presenting on recent research “Incorporating Crabgrass in Southern Pasture Systems to Improve Animal Performance” which has been supported by the GA Beef Cattle Commodity Commission and Barenbrug USA.
  
• Justin Burt also placed 1st in the AFGC Hay Contest (sponsored by the Southeast Hay Contest), an in-conference competition where participants rank hay samples and provide quality estimates based on RFQ value.
• UGA Crop and Soil Science graduate student Mr. Nick Shay (MS student advised by L. Baxter) placed 2nd in the Emerging Scientist Oral competition.