2024 Top Rancher Challenge Winners Recognized

 

For the past three years, UF/IFAS Extension has offered a fun but challenging educational contest at the at the Florida Cattlemens’ Association Convention in Marco Island, Florida.  The Top Rancher Challenge utilized a multiple choice quiz on iPads to test the knowledge and management expertise of people in the trade show that stopped by the UF/IFAS booth.  Last year a youth challenge was added to give the kids at the convention the opportunity to showcase their knowledge of cattle and forage production.

In 2024, the Top Rancher Challenge set new records with over  300 participants competing.  The top 10 competitors in the adult competition received leather portfolios, and the top 10 youth competitors received backpacks.  The overall winners from each category received customized award spurs (above) to recognize their achievement.

The 2024 Top Rancher Challenge winners were:  

Top Rancher – Ty Davis – Lubbock, Texas

Youth Top Rancher – Wyatt Edmonson – Lee, Alabama

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There were a record number of participants in this year’s Top Rancher Challenge, with 230 contestants in the adult and 99 Youth; 76% more than last year. Below are links to the response keys with links to resources with more information. Note that the questions had different weights (from 1 to 3) depending on how difficult we judged them to be.  Topics for this year’s Top Rancher quiz ranged from cattle reproduction, pasture fertility, methane emission, weed control, herd health, nutrition, and conservation easements.  Topics in the Youth Rancher quiz included forages, beef quality assurance, weed and breed ID, herd health, tractor safety, and cattle reproduction.

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2024 Top Rancher Challenge Questions & Answers

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2024 Top Youth Rancher Challenge Questions & Answers

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We would love to hear more from you! Please reach out to us via email, at forages@ifas.ufl.edu or by contacting your local extension agent for more information on the challenge and questions. Thank you all for taking the time to interact with us, we truly enjoy serving you.

See you at the Florida Cattlemen’s Association Annual Convention in 2025!