Also called: Livestock Judge
Evaluates and ranks cattle, hogs, sheep, and goats at fairs and shows.
Walks around a ring of steers at a state fair, studies muscle and structure, and explains placings into a microphone. Many judges are professors or extension agents.
Estimate; usually paid per show on top of a main job.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Usually a degree in animal science and years of livestock judging experience.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Animal Science.
Growing about average. Steady.
Low risk for 10 years. Imaging may score carcass traits, but judging live animals in a show ring relies on an expert, trusted human eye.
Classes: Agriscience (FFA), Speech & debate, Biology, Animal science CTE.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-2023.
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