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By Ella Resor
More than 40 University of Findlay students traveled to Louisville, Kentucky, from Nov. 15 to 17 to compete at the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE), one of the largest livestock events in the world. For UF, the trip represents far more than a show: it highlights a program central to the university’s identity, recruitment pipeline, and national recognition.
The Beef Cattle Show Team, part of UF’s Animal Science program is one of the University’s most high profile experiential-learning initiatives. Students from a range of majors participate, gaining hands-on training, industry connections, and leadership experience.
Dr. Erin Alava, chair of the department of animal sciences, said the trip advances key parts of the University’s mission.
“One of our foundational tenets of the university is experiential learning,” Alava said, “This is considered a co-curricular, so it’s basically an extension of things that we teach in class.”
Alava said as many as 90 students join the beef show team each semester. Over months of preparation, that number narrows to the 40+ students who attend NAILE.
“This most recent trip to the North American International Livestock Expo, we took just over 40 students,” she said. “They actually get to travel as a university, represent Oiler pride, and show off all of their hard work. And they get recognition on a very large stage.”
The significance, she said, reaches well beyond the barn.
“This is an international show, so it also creates visibility beyond those individual students for our university, our program, and our brand,” Alava said.
A Program That Represents a Major Portion of the University
Alava sa
id the animal science major and its three emphases, Pre-Vet, Science, and Industry, are a cornerstone of UF’s enrollment.
“We’ve got about 500–575 animal science students .That’s approximately 30% of the undergrad population,” she said. “As a program, we are a large part of the university.”
The 8-day report released every semester by the registrar and president’s office show more than 400 pre-vet majors alone at UF this fall.
Because of the number of students involved in those majors, the show team’s success and visibility carry weight across academic departments, recruitment efforts, and community identity. Even students outside animal science participate each year. In the past, students majoring in radiology, physical therapy, and business have learned to handle and present cattle alongside experienced livestock students.
Colton Tom, now in his ninth year as the beef team coach, said the team has competed at Louisville since about 2012 and has built a long track record of success.
“More recently we started winning more divisions, more reserve divisions, and eventually we started winning a few supreme overall titles,” he said. “Plenty of banners in the hall.”
This year, the team showed eight heifers and five bulls. Thirteen students were selected to show through a judged evaluation process.
Tom said NAILE also provides critical industry exposure.
“There’s so many different sectors of the industry,” he said. “There’s nutrition people there, different farms and ranches that our students can hook up with and potentially find a job or internship.”
He said the team’s impact extends far beyond Animal Science.
“We have students that have never had large animal experience,” Tom said. “We have some that have a lot of experience, and they get to work together for one common goal and learn about the show cattle industry.”
Tom added that seeing UF’s brand represented at major national events often draws interest from prospective students who may ultimately enroll in different majors.
“They see the university’s name out there while they’re at a cattle show and think, ‘Oh, that’s pretty neat’.” Tom said.
Student Leadership and Development
Senior showman Sydnee Deyo has attended NAILE all four years of college, starting as a fitter her freshman year.
“My sophomore,
junior, and senior year I have been a showman for the university,” she said.
Deyo described early mornings, long days, and precise teamwork.
“The role of the students is to take the cow to tie out, wash them, dry them, make sure that they’re fed and well taken care of, and give them time to relax and get used to their surroundings,” she said.
Students must work as a unit to prepare each calf, especially once the show begins.
“Time management is definitely important. Communication is important. Teamwork is important,” Deyo said. “We’re all very stressed on time and we’re all working in a chaos, but we all know our jobs and we work well together as a team.”
This year she showed a bull calf, number 17N, named UF Google Me.
Deyo said she thrives in the chaotic, but organized atmosphere of NAILE.
“I work better under pressure, and being in that sort of environment really just kind of feeds me,” she said.
A Program with Academic, Industry, and Financial Impact
UF’s cattle program plays a strategic role in the university’s agricultural footprint, operating as both an academic resource and a contributor to university revenue.
“We are routinely engaged in different types of commerce with our livestock,” Alava said. “Private treaty sales, semen or embryos that we’ll sell, and various sales throughout the year that help cover the cost of some of their management and housing and feed costs, and also help support the show team monetarily.”
UF’s presence in the Aberdeen Angus breed, she said, has made the university known well beyond Ohio.
“Our name is certainly associated and recognizable for having high quality cattle,” Alava said. “People are seeking us out.”
A University-wide Asset
For Findlay, the Beef Cattle Show Team is more than a club or travel group. It is a major academic touchpoint, a recruitment tool, a professional network, a national ambassador for the university, and a hands-on classroom for students across majors.
“It’s not always just about the banners,” Alava said. “ The reason we do this is to enrich students and give them the opportunity to participate.”
With another year at NAILE complete, UF students returned home with another banner for the Reserve Grand Champion Aberdeen Angus full blood bull. They also came back with numerous industry connections, competitive experience, and continued national recognition.
