The 2025 Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Animal Science Meat Judging Team earned international champion honors at the Intercollegiate Meat Judging, ICMJ, competition in Wagga Wagga, Australia, held July 8-12. The team was the only U.S. group invited to compete and attend the associated conference.

the Texas A&M meat judging team with awards won in Australia
Tess Herbert, far right bottom, Meat and Livestock Australia board member, stands with the Texas A&M Department of Animal Science Meat Judging Team after they earned international champion honors at the Intercollegiate Meat Judging competition in Wagga Wagga, Australia. (Megan Hendry/Intercollegiate Meat Judging)

Grace Real ’27, Krum, also earned the title of overall high individual.

“It was an honor to be selected as the U.S. team to attend and compete at ICMJ,” said Drew Cassens, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service meat specialist and interim meat judging coordinator.

Throughout the week, the team connected with Australian producers, attended educational sessions, toured local sites and trained for the competition.

Donors make an international invitational trip possible

ICMJ is an Australian organization comprising multiple universities that aims to educate students and promote careers in the meat industry. Each year, it hosts a conference and judging competition to identify Australia’s top five meat science students. These individuals then travel internationally to represent the country.

Earlier this year, Texas A&M hosted the Australian team during their U.S. visit. Cassens credited graduate coach Gage Walsh, of Santa Fe, with solidifying the relationship through hospitality, campus tours and practice support.

Just weeks before the competition, Texas A&M, along with one Japanese team, received the formal invitation to Australia. Through fundraising and generous donor support, the team secured funding and finalized travel plans.

“Getting the funds on short notice was a big task,” Cassens said. “I’m incredibly grateful to the department and our donors for making this possible.”

Quickly, Cassens rounded up the team and hosted practices on Zoom to prepare for the Wagga Wagga event.

He said summer is a difficult time for students, as many are interning across the nation. Seven of the meat judging team members were unable to attend as they were participating in high-profile internships this summer.

Adjusting to new formats

Once in Sydney, the team jumped into preparation mode. They toured the Teys Cargill beef plant and Gundagai Lamb plant, gaining hands-on exposure to Australian product lines.

“We got to see some carcasses and even had producers set up practice classes for us,” Real said. “It was a great help before the competition.”

Unlike U.S. contests that emphasize written reasons, the ICMJ format requires answers to 10 questions per class. Cassens also noted other differences, including retail ID and product yield evaluations, as well as contrasting grading standards between Australia and the U.S.

“We trained extensively before we left so the team would feel ready,” Cassens said.

Real viewed the format shift as a valuable learning opportunity.

“We’ve been focusing on written reasons all season, so having to answer questions made us really pay attention to detail,” she said.

Bringing home the title

The awards banquet closed out the week. Team members were unsure of their final standings heading into the results.

three people, two women and a man, stand in front of a banner with logos and initials - ICMJ and mla and AMPC on it
Grace Real ’27, center, earned overall high individual honors when the Department of Animal Science Meat Judging Team competed in the Intercollegiate meat judging competition in Wagga Wagga, Australia. (Megan Hendry/Intercollegiate Meat Judging)

“I was definitely nervous,” Real said. “We were just thankful to be there and wanted to do our best.”

When Real was named Overall Individual Champion, she paused in surprise before hugging her teammates and congratulating new friends she’d made during the trip.

“It was such a surreal experience. I felt so proud to represent the U.S., Texas A&M and my family,” she said.

As anticipation grew, the team waited for the announcement of the overall champion. When Texas A&M’s name was called, everyone leapt from their seats in celebration.

“It just felt amazing,” Cassens said. “All the hard work Gage and the students put in made the win worth it. This was a big moment for Gage to see his team succeed after all the coaching and preparation. I’m proud of him.”

What’s ahead

The ICMJ event marked the midpoint of the Texas A&M team’s season. Prior contests included several wins, such as Reserve Champion at the National Western and Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Cassens described the team as resilient and determined. Despite early-season challenges, they showed consistent growth and commitment.

Real said competing in Australia was a surreal experience and everyone on the team was proud to represent the U.S. and Texas A&M.

“We’ve been a team since August,” Real said. “And we will be together until November. We spend so much time practicing and bonding that we’ve really built a strong support system.”

The team will compete in four more contests this fall. Cassens emphasized that the team’s strength lies in consistent performance.

“They just do what they’ve been trained to do, and that’s why they succeed,” he said.

All students in the Department of Animal Science participate in high-impact learning experiences, including study abroad trips, research, internships, and competitive teams. Students receive hands-on training while building leadership and teamwork skills, expanding on the lessons learned in the classroom.

Real said the team is helping her grow on both personal and academic levels.

“We push each other to be the best and support each other on the tough days,” she said. “My teammates are committed to excellence, and being surrounded by high-reaching people has inspired me to keep reaching higher too.”

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