Penn State Beef Quiz Bowl Team Places Second in National Contest

The Penn State Beef Quiz Bowl team placed second in the 2008 National Cattlemen's Foundation Collegiate Beef Quiz Bowl held as part of the 2008 Cattle Industry Annual Convention in early February in Reno, NV. The Colorado State University team placed first.

Members of the 2008 Penn State team include:  Brent Schuler, senior animal sciences major, Fleetwood; Chris Molinaro, junior animal sciences major, McClure; David Graham Wilson, junior animal sciences major, Port Royal; and Melissa Sankey, senior agriculture business management major and animal science minor, Clearfield. This team continues a long-standing tradition of dominance at the quiz bowl since it was initiated in 1993. Teams from Penn State have won eight years and placed second five years.

Department Head Dr. Terry Etherton said, "I offer congratulations to these outstanding students on this national recognition. The consistent placing of Penn State teams at the top of this annual rigorous competition is a positive reflection on both the quality of our program and on the hard work and efforts of the students."

Teams earned the privilege of competing in the finals by winning their American Society of Animal Science section's competition of the Academic Quadrathlon. In the northeast region this year, over 300 students participated. With four members to a team, the contest features double elimination, and the team with the best record wins. 

During the competition, students answer a series of questions about all aspects of beef cattle and the beef industry. The range of questions can include physiology, nutrition, reproduction, meat science, basic production information and current events affecting the beef industry.

The Collegiate Quiz Bowl continues to develop future leaders by engaging them in competition and presenting the contestants with the opportunity to be a part of the Cattle Industry Annual Convention where the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) hosts the largest beef-focused trade show in the country with 250 exhibitors.

Undergraduate Advisor Daniel M. Kniffen said, "The trade show affords a unique opportunity for our students to connect with industry leaders while learning about opportunities in every area of the industry. The convention is focused on education, information and networking, so our team members gain valuable insight while attending."  Kniffen is assistant professor of dairy and animal science.

The National Collegiate Quiz Bowl is a joint program of the National Cattlemen's Foundation and the American Society of Animal Science. The other collegiate teams who represented their regions included The Ohio State University and the University of Tennessee.