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The University of North Georgia's (ºìÁ«ÉçÇø) poultry judging team took fourth place in production hens at the 72nd annual National Collegiate Poultry judging competition at Louisiana State University in early April.

In addition to the team's strong finish, Bryce Andrews placed second and Sam Castleberry fourth out of 44 students competing in production hens.

ºìÁ«ÉçÇø's team placed eighth overall in its fourth year competing at the event. It was the first year ºìÁ«ÉçÇø students brought home trophies.

Fellow poultry science students Camille Dunn and Katie Pitchford were part of ºìÁ«ÉçÇø's team.

"I am proud that the agriculture universities across the country now recognize ºìÁ«ÉçÇø as a competitor and our students got to experience winning and bringing home a trophy," said Linda Purvis, lecturer of biology and poultry science at ºìÁ«ÉçÇø and faculty adviser for the team.

Castleberry, a sophomore from Gainesville, Georgia, pursuing an associate degree in avian biology, learned about poultry judging for the first time this school year.

"It opened a whole new side of the industry that I didn't even know existed," Castleberry said.

Andrews, a sophomore from Mount Airy, Georgia, pursuing an associate degree in poultry science, first gained poultry judging experience in her high school National FFA Organization.

"I'm really competitive, so I practiced my heart out," Andrews said. "It just felt good to bring home a trophy."