A four-man Mississippi State student team is nesting third-place honors this year in regional poultry judging.

University seniors Zach Cummings, Mike Mitchell, and Rod Moore, along with junior Jimmy Rushing, composed one of 11 teams taking part in the 53rd Annual Southern Collegiate Poultry Judging Contest. Sponsored by the United States Poultry and Egg Association, the recent award gathering took place at Louisiana State University.

Associate poultry scientist Tim Chamblee of Starkville is team coach.

Chamblee said the contest is divided into three divisions: production, breed selection, and market products. Awards are presented for team and individual achievements in each division and for overall performance.

As a team, Mississippi State also placed second in breed selection, fourth in market products, and eighth in production.

Individually, Moore was first both in the overall competition and in the breed selection division, as well as fifth in production. Mitchell was fourth in breed selection.

Texas A&M and Kansas State universities finished first and second overall, respectively.