Texas Tech's livestock judging team was crowned national champions Tuesday (Nov. 15) at the 2011 North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville. The team won the contest by a thirty-one point margin, posting a total team score of 4,677 points.

The Red Raiders won the overall reasons and swine divisions. They were second in the cattle division and third in the sheep division. Individually, Brady Ragland, a senior from Wolfforth, was awarded high individual overall. Jordan Clem, a senior from New Home, was fifth overall; Brandi Capps, a senior from Dewey, Okla., was eighth overall; and Kody Lucherk, a senior from Poth, was ninth overall.

Additional team members were:" Clay Burson, a senior from Abilene" Clayton Gardner, a senior from Estancia, NM" Tanner Kieschnick, a senior from Vernon" Katie Rose McCullough, a senior from Castle Rock, Colo." Clay Morrison, a senior from Midland" Nathan Pond, a senior from Wolfforth" Logan Pritchett, a senior from Kingfisher, Okla." Nathan Reeves, a senior from League City" Joel Riedel, a senior from Arroyo Grande, Calif." Markus Miller, a senior from Abernathy" Loni Woolley, a senior from Grandview

The team is coached by Ryan Rathmann, an assistant professor in Tech's Department of Animal and Food Sciences, along with graduate student Bryan Bernhard. The team had a successful year winning competitions at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, the National Barrow Show, the Tulsa State Fair, the State Fair of Texas and the American Royal. They are only the eleventh team in the history of livestock judging to win both the American Royal and the International.

This is the seventh livestock judging team from Texas Tech University to win the national championship. Previously, the competition had been won by teams in 1934, 1953, 1985, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Written by Kelsey Fletcher

CONTACT: Ryan Rathmann, assistant professor, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University at 742-2805 ext. 233 or ryan.rathmann@ttu.edu

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