2008 Meat Animal Evaluation Team Claims National Title

Texas Tech University's Meat Animal Evaluation Team won first place in the 2008 National Meat Animal Evaluation Contest held Mach 27-28 at the Oklahoma City Stockyards and Oklahoma State University.  This marks back-to-back championships for Texas Tech University.

Texas Tech won the Market Animal, Breeding and Meat Divisions and placed second in the Communications Division.  These honors scored them a total of 8808 points, outdistancing the second place team by 110 points.

"We have worked hard to establish Texas Tech as the premiere judging program in the nation,” said Coach Ryan Rathmann.  “This win serves as confirmation that the Department of Animal and Food Sciences and its livestock and meat science evaluation programs are at the top.”

According to contest officials, the contest was specifically designed to encourage students to seek a more complete understanding of the food supply from conception to consumer. 

"This judging event is perceived as the ultimate judging contest because students must be competent in all areas of the livestock and meats industry to excel,” Rathmann said.  “This team is comprised of extremely intelligent, hardworking, and knowledgeable young men and women.  I am proud of their accomplishment and pleased to see them represent the department with excellence.”

Individually, Judd Gardner led the team with a first place finish, followed by teammates Chance Williams and Bryan Bernhard who finished eighth and tenth, respectively.

Team members include the following:  Markus Arnold, Panhandle; Bryan Bernhard, Seguin; Jennifer Blackburn, Grady, N.M.; Josh Campbell, Las Cruces, N.M.; Ben Estes, Holis, OK; Judd Gardner, Estancia, N.M.; Zach Gilbert, Sweetwater; Colton Long, Sterling City; Ben Pyke, Humble; Aaron Renfroe, Ozona; Trevor Thompson, Pilot Point; Gered Smith, White Deer; T. Chance Van Dyke, Hobbs, N.M.; Micah Walker, Sulphur Springs; Troy Walker, Michigantown, Ind; Brett Wheeler, Plant City, Flor.; Chance Williams, Quemado, N.M.

The team is coached by Travis O'Quinn and Rathmann.

Contact: Kayla Rathmann
Phone number: (806) 742-2805 X 24.