Texas Tech Meat Judging Team wins third consecutive national championship
Texas Tech earned the school's 11th national championship in meat judging Sunday (Nov. 17) at the American Meat Science Association's International Meat Judging Contest held in Dakota City, Neb. It's the third consecutive year Texas Tech has won the title, making it only the second university in the history of intercollegiate meat judging to accomplish the feat.
The team won the lamb and pork judging, specifications and reasons divisions. The students finished second in placings and beef grading.
"We're very proud of the efforts of these young men and women and their representation of our university on a national stage," said Duane Nellis, president of Texas Tech. "The meat judging program has a successful and storied history and continues to be the benchmark nationally for other programs."
The team won the contest by a 51-point margin. The remaining top five teams in the contest included Angelo State, Kansas State, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State.
Individual placements were:- Christy Woerner, a junior from Fredericksburg, was high individual
- Austin Langemeier, a junior from Marion, was fourth
- Nick Hardcastle, a junior from Wheeler, was fifth
- Kassandra Ognoskie, a junior from Orting, Wash., was eleventh
- Brittany Blum, a junior from Howe
- Colton Campbell, a junior from Artesia, N.M.
- Kylan Carson, a junior from Olton
- Taelar Childers, a junior from Crandall
- Colton Coker, a junior from Roby
- Aaron Faulkner, a senior from Lenapah, Okla.
- Trey Garza, a junior from Edinburg
- Greg Howard, a senior from Bremen, Kansas
- Kirby Kennedy, a junior from Lampasas
- Kristen Knight, a junior from Shallowater
- Clayton Krause, a senior from New Braunfels
- Jacob Mikel, a senior from Vichy, Mo.
- Tyler Neuman, a junior from Hondo
- Bailey Joe Pennington, a junior from Sonora
- Luke Sellers, a senior from Denver City
- William Wunderlich, a junior from Fredericksburg
"This is a very special group of students who have worked hard this year," said Mark Miller, the team's coach and Tech's San Antonio Livestock Show & Rodeo Distinguished Chair in Meat Science. "They courageously came back from a loss at the Eastern National and the American Royal contests and committed themselves to working hard as a team to win decisively at the International." The team is coached by Tech graduate student Loni Woolley along with Miller.
Texas Tech now has a total of 11 national championships in intercollegiate meat judging (1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013). Because the university has won it three times since, the trophy will be retired at Texas Tech. This is the third cup to be retired on the campus.
According to program officials, the meat judging program strives to teach students communication skills, rational decision making skills and give students the ability to excel in a competitive environment under pressure. These skills are developed to help students excel both professionally and personally.
Written by Moriah Beyers
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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