UNG team places in top 10 of poultry competition

April 30, 2018
Mercedes Fricks, Abigail Thompson, Linda Purvis, John Grier, and Cara Ann McGuire attended the 71st U.S. Poultry Foundation Ted Cameron National Poultry Judging Contest at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Article By: Staff

University of North Georgia (UNG) students placed ninth overall at the 71st U.S. Poultry Foundation Ted Cameron National Poultry Judging Contest at Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

"This is the highest we’ve placed since we started attending the competition in 2016," said Linda Purvis, a lecturer of biology at UNG.

She attributed the top 10 finish to becoming a better coach over time and recruiting students interested in poultry science.

"Students that we took have had poultry judging in high school, whether it is through 4-H or FFA," Purvis said. "And the students this year wanted to practice earlier and wanted to do well."

The UNG team placed in the top 10 in three categories: production, 10; breed selection, 9; and market products, 8. It earned the team an overall ninth-place finish.

Team members were:

  • Abigail Thompson, a junior majoring in business from Cornelia, Georgia
  • John Grier, a freshman majoring in poultry science from Lula, Georgia
  • Cara Ann McGuire, a freshman majoring in agriculture from Cleveland, Georgia
  • Mercedes Fricks, a sophomore majoring in agriculture from Winder, Georgia

24 are Distinguished Military Graduates

24 are Distinguished Military Graduates

Twenty-four cadets have been named Distinguished Military Graduates for the 2024-25 academic year, including five who are in the top 70 out of more than 5,000 in the national ROTC class.
Students research threatened fish

Students research threatened fish

Three students are working with Dr. Andrew Taylor, a professor of biology, on research helping restore habitat connectivity for a federally-threatened fish species.
Students explore study away programs

Students explore study away programs

Sixteen UNG students participated in two study away programs in the U.S., one in Iowa for agriculture and the other in South Carolina for archaeology.
Education abroad supports students' career goals

Education abroad supports students' career goals

UNG's education abroad program had students in Belize and Peru this summer, providing language skills to further their career aspirations.