I hope everyone has had a fantastic first couple weeks of class and are enjoying this beautiful weather for the ducks! This fall is my second and final semester competing with UW’s Meat Judging Team. We are excitedly gearing up for our first contest that will be held on October 5th in Pennsylvania. Do I get strange looks as I walk across campus holding my Carhartt jacket with the pockets stuffed full of hairnets in 80 degree weather? Yep. Do I have eyebrows raised when I enthusiastically tell people that I’m going to spend my evening in a meat cooler? You bet! However, it’s something that I wouldn’t ever change. As an active member of 4-H all of my life, I had previously tried my hand at almost every kind of judging team there is, but had never tried Meat Judging. It has been a lot to learn, but don’t ever let lack of previous experience deter you from judging at the collegiate level! It has without a doubt been one of my best college experiences, as it has taught me invaluable industry skills, opened doors to new career opportunities, and helped me to network with professionals across the country. On top of that, I get to travel across the country and tour some really interesting places, both agriculture and otherwise. I sincerely hope that you will consider some of the awesome judging teams that UW has to offer at some point in your college career.