Aims ag students place in international animal welfare contest
Aims Community College Animal Science students placed third in the undergraduate junior division at the 2025 American Veterinary Medical Association Animal Welfare Assessment Contest held last month at Texas A&M University.
This is the second time an Aims team has been among the top-placing groups, following Aims’ fifth-place finish in 2024. It is the fourth time that the school has participated in the competition.
Aims was the only associate degree program to compete in this event, facing off against four-year universities and international teams. Agricultural Sciences and Technology Department Chair Amy McFarland emphasized the significance of the achievement, noting, “The fact that our students placed as the only two-year college in an international competition shows the exceptional quality of education they receive at Aims.”
The Aims team showcased their skills by employing science-based methods to assess animal welfare across a diverse range of species, including farm-raised tilapia, pet gerbils, snakes in a zoo and dressage horses. The contest used both live and computerized scenarios for students to assess the health of the animal and then defend their reasoning.
Throughout the fall semester, students participated in weekly practice sessions that focused on independent research, scenario analysis and oral presentations. Students also engaged in hands-on experiences, including field trips to facilities like the CU Anschutz lab and guest lectures from industry professionals in aquaculture. They grew skills in collaboration, managing high-pressure situations and effective communication.
Professor Amy McFarland and instructor Tammy Schneider coached the students, who each earned their entry to the national competition through an internal selection process. The team that placed third included the following Aims students: James Barrera, Abby Flores, Isabel Garcia, Avery Loveland and Zoey Snyder. A second team also competed, featuring students Tayen Albrandt, Rowen Ben-Joseph, Morgan Crawford, Scott Steagall and Halle Vilhauer.
“Competing so well at this high level attests to the rigor of our agricultural sciences program and the tremendous dedication of our students and faculty,” said Aims Academic Dean for Business and Technology Jim Vernon.
Nebraska State Fair takes home 14 IAFE awards
The Nebraska State Fair has received 14 international awards from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions, including seven first-place, five second-place, and two third-place recognitions for their 2025 event.
Competing against thousands of entries from fairs across the nation, and around the world, the Nebraska State Fair once again stood out as a leader in agriculture, guest experience, commercial exhibits, commercial marketing and sponsorship innovation.
“I believe these awards speak to the creativity and dedication of our entire Nebraska State Fair team and even our partners,” said Executive Director Jaime Parr. “To compete on an international stage and come home with top honors in so many categories is an incredible reflection of the great year we’ve had – I really couldn’t be prouder of our team.”
First Place Awards
- Agriculture: Livestock Photo
- Agriculture: Crops Photo
- Competitive Exhibits: Use of Theme
- Competitive Exhibits: New Class
- Competitive Exhibits: Creative Display (Earl May Fair Square)
- Sponsorship: In-Kind / Trade Partnership
- Commercial Exhibits: Vendor Communications
Second Place Awards
- Agriculture: Exhibitor Participation Incentives / Retention Program (Bill Angel Award)
- Competitive Exhibits: Special Contest (Puzzle Contest)
- Non-Fair: Capital Improvement Plan & Execution
- Commercial Exhibits: Innovative Layout Change
- Commercial Exhibits: Marketing & Promotion
Third Place Awards
- Agriculture: Rodeo Photo
- Competitive Exhibits: Display Method (Gridwall)
The IAFE awards program recognizes fairs of all sizes for exceptional work and innovation on an annual basis. Fair entries are compared to one another by a panel of judges across the world. With thousands of competitive entries submitted globally, earning recognition — especially multiple first-place finishes — is considered one of the highest honors in the fair and expo industry.
