The next day they trooped over to the Stock Judging pavilion that was across from the Animal Sciences building on campus. A large metal curved structure was set up in the middle of the dusty arena. Napoleon was itching to draw it – with a liger jumping over the side and Pedro and himself running toward it – ready to take it down with awesome numchuck skills! The students turned their attention to a tall middle-aged woman in a red western shirt, black tie, and black jeans. "Hi." She said loudly over their chatter and paused as the last of the students shushed each other. "I am an animal science professor here at Colorado State University. I designed this dip-vat here that you see in front of you." She opened a gate to a corral where several cows were huddled. They started walking through the curved maze. The professor explained how they liked curved spaces and how the walls prevented them from seeing the people on the outside. She let the group spread out and see over the dip-vat walls. Napoleon and Pedro watched in awe as the cows moved calmly through the system.
Most of the FFA students were huddled in a knot chatting with each other as the CSU staff walked to the other side of the Livestock arena to set up the equipment for the next demonstration. The professor was rubbing one of the cows that had walked through it. Napoleon went up to her and Pedro followed.
"You probably have the best cattle handling skills of anyone I know of." Napoleon asked before squinting and looking away briefly.
"Thank you." The professor said. "What animal are you most interested in working with?"
"Probably a liger. It's pretty much the sweetest animal ever." Napoleon said. "I could tame it using my numchuck skills." Pedro bit his lip expecting the professor to tell him ligers weren't real.
"Well, numchucks would probably just set off it's seeking or hunting reactions. I would use food rewards when they do something right." The professor explained matter-of-factly.
"Sweet! Have you met one before?" Napoleon asked excitedly.
"Well, you said Liger. I'm guessing that's a cross between a lion and a tiger."
"Heck yes, it is!" Napoleon said.
"Well, they are both large cats. So you'd train them in a very similar way you'd train a cat."
"Sweet!" Napoleon said. "I think Ligers would like tots."
"We'd better go." Pedro said as the crowd started moving toward the corrals to see a demonstration involving a horse. "It was nice to meet you. I'm sure you make animals' wildest dreams come true." Napoleon nodded quickly before running toward the FFA group.