Texas Tech University's meat judging team walked away with first place honors Sunday (March 4) at the Houston Livestock Show's Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest. The Red Raider's Black Team finished first and posted a total score of 4,053 points, winning the beef judging, lamb judging, pork judging, specifications, total placings and reasons divisions.

This is the eighth consecutive year the powerhouse team won the Houston competition. "I'm very proud of the commitment of these students this spring," said Mark Miller, a professor and San Antonio Livestock Show Distinguished Chair in Meat Science. "We're very blessed to have such a deep team this year."

Individually, three team member finished in the top-ten overall. Tanner Adams, a sophomore from Sanger, was second overall. Dan Crownover, a sophomore from Italy, placed third and Steven Ebeling, a sophomore from Plainview, was eighth.

Additional team members include:

• Weston Burson, a sophomore from Florence
• Colton Christian, a sophomore from Farwell
• Bradley Davis, a junior from Lubbock
• Garydale Grubelnik, a junior from Raton, N.M.
• Bo Hutto, a sophomore from Hondo
• Trevor King, a sophomore from Winnsboro
• Valerie Manning, a sophomore from Mabank
• Zac Miller, a sophomore from Seymour
• Dewayne Phillips, a sophomore from Stephenville
• Heather Rode, a sophomore from Doss

The team is coached by graduate students Collin Corbin and Henry Ruiz, along with Miller.

CONTACT: Mark Miller, Professor, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2805, ext. 231 or mfmrraider@aol.com

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