Three competitive judging teams from the Department of Animal Science in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences recently claimed championship titles at the historic National Western Stock Show, NWSS, in Denver.
The department’s 2024 meat and wool judging teams were both named champions of their contests, and the livestock judging team was named reserve overall in the Collegiate Livestock Contest and the Carload Contest.
Results from NWSS continue the century-long tradition of excellence for the department’s competitive teams, said Clay Mathis, Ph.D., professor and head of the Department of Animal Science, Bryan-College Station.
“The department is proud of the recent wins of our teams in Denver,” he said. “The consistent success of the competitive teams is a testament to the dedication of our students and coaches upholding the standard of excellence that has been set for more than 100 years.”
The livestock judging team has won 12 national championships, the wool judging team has been national or reserve national champions 11 times in the last 10 years and the meat judging team has a total of 17 national championships.
“These students are building a network of peers, colleagues and friends that will stay with them well beyond their judging years,” Mathis said.
Students dedicate countless hours to practice and travel for contests, all while effectively managing the demands of their college coursework. Mathis said this level of commitment plays a crucial role in helping students develop essential skills such as leadership, time management and critical thinking.
Meat judging team
The meat judging team started the year by being named champion team overall and placing first in six categories, which included reasons, grading, beef, total beef, placings and lambs. The team also placed second in specs and tied for second in pork.
Individual success included four team members securing positions in the top 10 overall. An additional five achieved a top-10 ranking in the alternate division.
“The team did everything I knew they could,” said Jennifer Wyle, meat judging team coordinator and lecturer, Bryan-College Station. “I am proud of each team member for the dedication, perseverance and hard work that led the team to this point.”
Texas A&M individual placings:
- Avery Flanagan, Ballinger: first overall, first lamb, first reasons, first placings, fifth beef.
- Dillon Prokop, Llano: second overall, second reasons, fourth grading, fourth beef, third placings.
- Nathan Kerth, College Station: eighth overall, first beef, tied for fifth reasons.
- Kyla Beck, Seguin: ninth overall, fourth lamb, fifth placings.
Texas A&M individual placings, alternate division:
- Tate Lane, Pineland: fourth overall.
- Maddie Unruh, Peyton, Colorado: fifth overall.
- Madeline Luedke, College Station: sixth overall.
- Tanner Owen, Canyon: seventh overall.
- Shelby Pieniazek, San Antonio: ninth overall.
Other team members include Maggie DeLaCerda, Denton; Trey Hoffmann, New Braunfels; Gavin Kubala, Schulenburg; Karson Kurtz, Boerne; Connor Pence, Mereta; Landon Southern, Sinton; and Logann Weidenfeller, Boerne. Members are coached by Lauren Lee, Hamilton; Gage Walsh, Santa Fe; and Wyle.
The team is scheduled to compete in eight contests throughout this year, with the next competition taking place at the South Plains Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest in Hereford.
Wool judging team
The two wool judging teams entered by Texas A&M were named champion overall and third overall. In addition, 10 team members placed in the top 10 high individual overall and high individual alternate division. Within the contest divisions, four team members were recognized as first overall in five different divisions.
“The team worked hard to get the season off to a great start,” said Shawn Ramsey, Ph.D., assistant department head for academics in the Department of Animal Science and wool judging coordinator, Bryan-College Station. “The trip totaled 20 hours and 2,100 miles driven, and this awesome group of students represented the department and university with honor and professionalism.”
Texas A&M individual placings were:
- Savay Sexton, Gonzales: first overall.
- Sam Seidenberger, Fredericksburg: second overall.
- Owen Sanders, Cedar Park: fourth overall.
- Mia Moderski, Katy: fifth overall.
- Brayden Bennett, La Vernia: 10th overall.
Texas A&M individual placings, alternate division:
- David Kendrick, Shallowater: first overall.
- Katrina Johnson, Mesa, Arizona: second overall.
- Ben Flanagan, Ballinger: third overall.
- Tres Spencer, Roby: fourth overall.
- Corbin Garner, Leonard: fifth overall.
Texas A&M students placed first overall in contest divisions:
- Moderski: placing, reasons.
- Sexton: grading.
- Spencer: hand spinning.
- Seidenberger: value determination.
Other team members include Jamisen Capps, Hempstead; Koda Davis, Sonora; Jenna Dow, Lakeway; Lily Ford, Weslaco; Molly Friess, Sonora; Coy Jacobs, Hondo; Amy Kaye Mathis, Kingsville; Davis Nix, Tolar; Grace Real, Krum; and Brant Warner, Anderson.
The team is coached by animal science graduate student Shane Flanagan, Ballinger, and undergraduate assistant coaches Jaxson Zimmerman, Franklin, and Carson Carter, Iola.
The next contest will be in Rapid City, South Dakota, at the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo, followed by the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo contests.
Livestock judging team
The Texas A&M livestock judging team competed in the Collegiate Livestock Contest and the Carload Contest during NWSS. The team was named reserve champion overall in both contests and was also named second in hogs, third in sheep and goats, third in reasons and fourth in cattle in the Collegiate Livestock Contest.
“I am proud of how the team has practiced and worked the last few months leading up to this first contest of the season,” said Caleb Boardman, livestock judging team coordinator and lecturer, Bryan-College Station. “These 22 students have an immense amount of talent and drive, and we are excited for the remainder of the spring season for them to showcase their abilities.”
Texas A&M individual placings, livestock contest:
- Gunner Coburn, Sterling City: third overall, third reasons, seventh hogs, ninth sheep/goats.
- Weston McElroy, Bryan: first sheep/goats.
- Tate Hogan, Sterling City: first goats.
- Blake Peterson, Remington, Indiana: fourth cattle, fifth cattle reasons.
- Cooper Thompson, Adair, Oklahoma: fifth hogs.
Texas A&M individual placings, carload contest:
- Karson Patton, Frankfort, Indiana: first overall.
- Kendahl Nix, Midland: eighth overall.
- Hunter Knudson, Morristown, Indiana: 12th overall.
Other team members include Kash Butler, Grove, Oklahoma; Kord Butler, Grove, Oklahoma; Keilee Day Cleveland; Cooper Ford, Weslaco; Caitlyn Hobbs, Mount Pleasant; Sara Jennings, Angleton; Conner Knudson, Morristown, Indiana; Hannah McElrath, Calhoun, Georgia; Emmitt Meyring, Laramie, Wyoming; Kaley Pieper, Fowler, Colorado; Kyle Real, Krum; Ethan Sanchez, Bangs; Taylor Turner, Conroe; Brylee Williams Princeton, Missouri.
Members are coached by animal science graduate students Kyle Despain, Laramie, Wyoming, and Katie Kempen, San Antonio.
The team will compete in three more contests during February, including the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo Intercollegiate Livestock Judging Contest; the Dixie National Collegiate Beef Judging Contest in Jackson, Mississippi; and the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Intercollegiate Judging Contest, Senior College Livestock. More information and news about the department’s 10 competitive teams can be found here.
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