LSU Poultry Judging Team Wins National Contest

April 22, 2022

By Annabelle Lang 

LSU poultry judging team

The LSU poultry judging team accepts awards from USPOLUTRY Executive Director Barbara Jenkins. (L-R, back) Dennis Ingram (coach), Tristan Foret, and Luke Comeaux; (L-R, front) Grace Tassin, Barbara Jenkins (USPOULTRY), and Gabrielle Davis.

LSU poultry judging team took numerous awards at USPOULTRY Foundation Ted Cameron National Poultry Judging Contest, held at LSU Poultry Research Farm on April 6-8. 

The national competition tests students’ evaluation skills for egg production and breeding purposes. The competition’s categories are production, breed selection, and market products. 

LSU placed first overall and first in the breed selection and production judging divisions as a team. 

Members of the teams are Tristan Foret, Luke Comeaux, Grace Tassin, and Gabrielle Davis. 

Individual awards include: 

  • Comeaux as second overall high individual and high individual in the breed selection category.  
  • Davis as fifth overall high individual and fourth high individual in the production category.
  • Tassin as tenth overall high individual.
  • Foret as twelfth overall high individual.

The team was coached by retired poultry science professor Dennis Ingram, who has led many successful poultry teams throughout his tenure at LSU. 

Foret, a junior majoring in agricultural and extension education, is a second-generation poultry judging team member to be coached by Ingram. 

“Dr. Ingram coached my dad when he was on the poultry judging in the ‘90s,” said Foret. “They won several big titles when he was on the team, and I wanted to see if I could continue that tradition.” 

“ Dr. Ingram coached my dad when he was on the poultry judging in the ‘90s,” said Foret. “They won several big titles when he was on the team, and I wanted to see if I could continue that tradition. ”

LSU held off hosting the contest for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“Coming off of two years where we were not able to host the contest, it was exciting to be able to not only host the contest, but perform really well,” said Foret. 

Top five teams in the competition were LSU, Penn State, University of Arkansas, Texas A&M University, and Mississippi State University. 

“It was enjoyable to bring other universities in and show off our facilities and what we have going on at our poultry farm,” said Foret.