By MEGAN SMITH

Staff Writer

Neither rain nor potential flooding could stop the department of agricultural sciences' annual 2004 Little International Show and Fitting Contest and the 34th annual Tech Farm Product Sale on Saturday.

Dr. Gary Kennedy, head of the department of agricultural sciences and an associate professor of agricultural business, said this year was the most successful sale the department has seen.

Attendance was low for the competition, but Kennedy said 450 people came to the auction sale of the animals.

"I was very surprised considering the rain, but it showed there is support from the community," Kennedy said.

At the end of the auction the animals had sold for more than $36,000.

Dr. Mark W. Murphey, an assistant professor of animal science, said the competition has been held the first weekend of May every year, and rain was not going to delay it.

"That's just part of the livestock business," Murphey said. "The students have been fantastic."

Jane Petrus, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, was the overall champion of the competition.

Students have been preparing for competition since the beginning of spring quarter as part of their animal science class, Murphey said.

"Students groom the animals and get them ready for show," Murphey said.

Students can choose from beef cattle, dairy cattle, horses, sheep, swine and goats, Murphey said.

"Most of the students have never shown an animal before," he said. "This way they get experience with one-on-one contact with animals."

Saturday's competition was the day when students got the chance to show off their animals and what they have learned. Sixty-six students showed their animals to the panel of five judges.

Tamara Cossey, a freshman animal science major, said this was her first competition, and her animals were a sheep and a goat. Cossey said besides the cold and wet weather, it was fun.

"I will definitely continue this next year," Cossey said. "This was definitely a learning experience."

Cossey said she was a city girl and never worked with livestock before.

"It was a lot of hard work, and it takes a lot of patience and time to get the animals ready for show," she said.

Cossey said this kind of class shows that the department of agricultural sciences does not just sit back.

"They let students get out with the animals and have hands-on experience instead of just learning about them from a textbook."

Kennedy said this competition is the culmination of all the students' hard work.

"Students are able to develop a bond with the animals and see the whole process in a first-hand environment," Kennedy said.

Time Out for Tech also played a part in the weekend. Kennedy said four potential students and their parents came for the day and were able to see the competition.

Murphey said the biggest thing is for the students to have fun.

"This class creates unity among the students," Murphey said. "It gives them a chance to get to know one another outside of the classroom."