Texas Tech judging teams start season strong at Denver's National Western
Texas Tech's meat, wool and livestock judging teams once again proved they're one of the most consistent and competitive programs in the nation at this month's National Western Stock Show and Rodeo held in Denver.
"I'm once again proud of the consistency we have developed in our judging program here at Tech," said Mark Miller, co-coach of the meat judging team and Tech's San Antonio Livestock Show Distinguished Chair in Meat Science. "Each team has a competitive spirit that drives them to excellence."
Meat Judging Team
Tech's Meat Judging Team began their season with a 156-point victory, posting a total
team score of 4,144 points. They won the beef grading, beef judging, overall beef,
lamb judging, placing and reasons divisions. Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Angelo State
and Kansas State finished second through fifth, respectively. Texas Tech had the top
four individuals in the competition and had five of the top-10 individuals in the
alternate division.
Individual placements were:
- Bo Hutto, a sophomore from Hondo, placed first overall
- Heather Rode, a sophomore from Doss, placed second overall
- Valerie Manning, a sophomore from Mabank, placed third overall
- Dewayne Phillips, a sophomore from Stephenville, placed fourth overall
Alternate division honors went to:
- Steven Ebeling, a sophomore from Plainview, placed first
- Dan Crownover, a sophomore from Italy, placed second
- Weston Burson, a sophomore from Florence, placed third
- Garydale Grubelnik, a junior from Raton, N.M., placed sixth
- Colton Christian, a sophomore from Farwell, placed tenth
Additional team members include Tanner Adams, a sophomore from Sanger; Bradley Davis, a junior from Lubbock; Trevor King, a sophomore from Winnsboro; and Zac Miller, a sophomore from Seymour. The team is coached by graduate students Collin Corbin and Henry Ruiz along with Miller. The team will compete at two more contests this spring including the Southwestern in Fort Worth and the Houston Livestock Show.
Wool Judging Team
Tech's Wool Judging Team was narrowly defeated in their competition. Only one point
separated the top three teams. South Dakota State won the contest with a score of
1,807. Texas A&M finished second with 1,806 points. Texas Tech finished third with
the same score and won the grading division.
Individually, Tech had four members finish in the top 10. They were:
- Ward Kerr, a freshman from Mertzon, placed sixth
- Tyler Newman, a freshman from Hondo, placed seventh
- Colton Coker, a freshman from Roby, placed eighth
- Austin Langemeier, a freshman from Marion, place ninth
Additional team members included:
- Brittany Blum, a freshman from Howe
- Kylan Carson, a freshman from Olton
- Tayler Green, a freshman from Ropesville
- Kassandra Ognoskie, a freshman from Orting, Wash.
- Bailey Jo Pennington, a freshman from Sonora
- Marlynke Vanderlei, a freshman from Amherst
- Rex West, a freshman from Paris
- Christy Woerner, a freshman from Fredericksburg
- William Wunderlich, a freshman from Fredericksburg
- Lukas Ziegler, a freshman from New Windsor, Md.
The team is coached by graduate student Aaron Jennings and undergraduates Brittany Thompson and Trevor White. They will also compete at both the San Antonio and Houston Livestock Shows this spring.
Livestock Judging Team
Tech's Livestock Judging Team began their spring with a competitive fourth place finish
and total team score of 4,652 points at the National Western. Texas A&M won the contest
(4,682), Oklahoma State was second (4,681) and Iowa State was third (4,656).
Individually, Whitney Stuart, a junior from Fresno, Calif., ranked third in the competition. Additional team members included:
- Travis Begley, a junior from Plainview
- Ryan Boldt, a junior from Longmont, Colo.
- Drew Cashman, a junior from New Windsor, Md.
- Segayle Foster, a junior from Lockney
- Mandy-Jo Laurent, a junior from Nacogdoches
- Cade Luckett, a junior from Matador
- Ryan Rotramel, a junior from Devine
- Levi Schaefer, a junior from Garden City
- Alyssa Smith, a junior from Michigantown, Ind.
- Zach Smith, a junior from Sweetwater
- Luke Strecker, a junior from Rockbridge Bath, Va.
- Dakotah Williams, a junior from Glenrose
The team is coached by Tech Assistant Professor Ryan Rathmann, graduate student Josh Cribbs, and undergraduates Kody Lucherk and Brady Ragland. Additionally, the team will compete at Fort Worth, San Antonio and Houston this spring. The National Western Stock Show began in 1906 and is one of the nation's oldest and largest shows with a history of judging contests.
Written by Moriah Beyers
CONTACT: Moriah Beyers, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-2805 ext. 248, or moriah.beyers@ttu.edu
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