UF/IFAS 2025 Top Rancher Challenge Showcases Youth and Adult Talent

Marcelo Wallau, Hannah Baker, Ashley Kanobroski

For the past four years, the University of Florida/IFAS Forage and Livestock Extension teams have been challenging the attendees of the Florida Cattlemen’s Annual Convention to test their knowledge in cattle and forage production. The idea behind this effort is to spark interest in learning and engagement through competition. We put together a 15-question quiz with multiple topics relevant to beef cattle production in the state, from pasture management to economics, from environmental conservation to new reproductive technologies. In its fourth edition, the Top Rancher and Top Youth Rancher Challenges brought over 320 people to the UF/IFAS booth during the two days of the convention tradeshow. Contestants represented 11 other states and 33 counties in Florida. The counties with the greatest number of participants were Okeechobee (30 participants), Manatee (27), Polk (21), Hardee (17) and Pasco (16).

We had some very tough competition this year, with many contestants achieving high scores. Traditionally, we award the top 10 in each category, but this year we needed to expand to 11 Top Ranchers to accommodate the ties. The winner for the Top Rancher Challenge was Janelle Gardner-Cox of Pendleton, Kentucky, with a score of 33/33. Our second place was shared by the next 10 contestants, all with a score of 31/33. The Top Youth Rancher Challenge winner was Raelyn Hartman of Okeechobee, Florida, with a score of 29/33.

This year, the first places walked away with new, customized pocketknives, and the top 10 in each category won a Top Rancher or Youth Rancher hat and a pasture stick, to help with their grazing management. Congratulations to our winners!

Our main goal is education, and we love discussing the questions afterwards. Below, you will find the questions and answers from the quiz, along with a percentage of the right responses, and the explanation for each question. We hope that this can spark interest in learning, and contestants can use the opportunity to expand their knowledge.

We would love to hear from you about the contest! If you have any feedback for us, please contact us at forages@ifas.ufl.edu.

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