McKinzie to mentor next generation of meat judging students at Texas A&M
Educator and champion coach brings experience to nationally recognized program
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Conner McKinzie has joined the Department of Animal Science in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences as meat judging coordinator and lecturer, bringing a background in championship coaching, agricultural education and student leadership to Texas A&M University.
With experience in education, competitive judging and coaching, McKinzie will lead Texas A&M’s nationally recognized meat judging program and mentor students to help them develop their technical knowledge, critical-thinking skills and work ethic, which are all needed to succeed beyond competition.
“Conner’s experience as a competitor, coach and educator makes him an excellent addition to our department,” said Clay Mathis, Ph.D., professor and department head. “His passion for developing students and commitment to excellence will strengthen our meat judging program and continue its tradition of success.”
Building a foundation in agricultural leadership
A native of Stephenville, McKinzie served as Texas FFA’s first state vice president before earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal science from Texas Tech University.
During his time at Texas Tech, McKinzie competed on the wool, livestock, meat judging and meat animal evaluation teams. He later completed a master’s degree in meat science while serving as a graduate assistant meat judging coach, helping guide the 2021 National Champion Meat Judging Team.
Before joining Texas A&M, he taught agricultural science for Lubbock Independent School, where he led hands-on animal and food science courses and mentored students through career and technical education.
McKinzie said joining Texas A&M allows him to combine his passion for agriculture, teaching and student development at a university he has long respected. This fall, he will teach ANSC 317: Meat Selection, Evaluation and Grading and ANSC 325: Advanced Livestock and Product Evaluation.
“I really want to pour into students from not just a technical meat judging standpoint, but also from a leadership, practical skills and critical thinking standpoint” McKinzie said. “I’m excited to be here and be a part of the culture and the legacy.”
Preparing students for success beyond competition
McKinzie described his teaching philosophy in two words: students first.
He said successful teams begin with understanding each student’s strengths and creating an environment where they feel supported academically and personally. While competitive success remains important, he hopes students leave the program with confidence, lifelong relationships and the desire to continue investing in the Department of Animal Science long after graduation.
“My goal is to have students look back on their time on their judging team and think, ‘that was one of the best experiences of my life,’” McKinzie said. “If they continue to love Texas A&M, stay connected and want to give back, that’s how I would define success.”
As McKinzie begins recruiting future members of the meat judging team, he said he is looking forward to building on the program’s strong foundation while helping students grow as leaders, teammates and advocates for the meat industry.
