FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas poultry judging team took third place overall at the 52nd Annual National Collegiate Poultry Judging Contest hosted by the U of A Nov. 5-7.

In addition, Mackenzie Pippen finished fourth overall in the individual competition, and fifth in the Division 2-Breed Selection and Carcass Quality categories. Heather Kremer placed seventh overall individually and third in the Division 1-Egg Production and Quality category. Qinsi Gao took first-place honors in the Division 1-Egg Production and Quality section.

U of A's team consists of Pippen, Kremer, Gao, Mayra Hilario and Michaela Moder (alternate). They are all students in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Science's Department of Poultry Science. Dennis Mason is the coach and Amanda Bromley the assistant coach.

Texas A&M University took first place overall. Members of that team included Jason Lee (coach), Dale Hyatt (assistant coach), Halei Williams, Zach Heinsohn, Nikolas Faust and Bryce Leopold.

Other teams in the contest were from Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University, North Carolina State University, Penn State University, Ohio State University and University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.