Three students from the Chandler FFA Chapter placed eighth overall at the 2020 American Farmers & Ranchers Livestock Handling Contest held at Oklahoma National Stockyards in Oklahoma City earlier this month. Dillon Behrends, Jared Stone and Baylee Bowen competed against other FFA students from across Oklahoma to claim a top spot at the statewide contest. The students are pictured here with their chapter advisor Stuart Symes and AFR/OFU Cooperative President Scott Blubaugh. The annual competition showcases the skills of young 4-H and FFA members in practical, real-life cattle handling scenarios, such as weighing for accurate dosage, vaccinating and tagging calves in a hydraulic chute. Contestants are judged on skill, accuracy and efficiency as they process the animals. The annual contest begins with a written exam that measures students’ knowledge of livestock handling practices. At the state level, the competition emphasizes the application of classroom study to actual agricultural production scenarios. In order to excel, students must take knowledge out of the classroom and apply it in a real world situation.