The Wool Judging Team won the top prize while the Livestock Judging and Meat Judging teams finished second and third, respectively, at recent competitions in Denver.
Texas Tech University's Wool Judging Team won first place at the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) for the second year in a row.
Texas Tech's Black team, one of two competing in the event, finished with a total score of 1,968 to beat Texas A&M University (1,930) and Angelo State University (1,913) and claim the overall top prize at the event. Four members of the team also placed in the top 10 individually at the competition, led by high individual Cross Knittel from Sterling City, Texas.
Additional members of the Wool Judging Team are:
- Katelyn Deanda from Mission, Texas
- Riley Ehlers from New Braunfels, Texas
- Sara Goldammer from Elsa, Texas
- Hayden Holland from Kountze, Texas
- Brock Jonas from New Braunfels, Texas
- Landon Krippendorf from Sterling City, Texas
- Ellie LaCroix from Grapevine, Texas
- Kenley Miller from Pleasanton, Texas
- Kollier Miller from Panhandle, Texas
- Wade Sanders from Alliance, Nebraska
- Will Sisco from Sterling City, Texas
The team is coached by Kade Miller, Cole Levien and Kyle Vahlenkamp and supervised by Sam Jackson, an associate professor, and Moriah Beyers.
Texas Tech's Livestock Judging Team also took home a top honor, finishing second overall and claiming first place in the Carload Contest, an event unique to the National Western Stock Show where contestants evaluate pens of cattle. Individually, Katherine Eastep from Yanceyville, North Carolina, was high individual in the Carload Contest.
Jake Dawson and Cash Horton, both Plainview, Texas natives, earned top-10 finishes as well.
Additional members of the Livestock Judging Team are:
- Madellyne Adams from Brownwood, Texas
- Allison Brinkman from Belton, Texas
- Madison Brinkman from Belton, Texas
- Cooper Carter from Australia
- Tatum Christie from Tolar, Texas
- Kyle Coward from Gatesville, Texas
- Grant Cox from Joshua, Texas
- Clint Demmitt from East, Texas
- Luke Falkenstien from Oswego, Kansas
- Jagger Horn from Anson, Texas
- Kase Lerow from Waco, Texas
- Kelton Poe from Needville, Texas
- Quensey Torrez from Nordheim, Texas
- Collin Welper from Hart, Texas
- Ross Wingert from Rosebud, Arkansas
The team is coached by doctoral student Skyler Scotten and Ryan Rathmann, the John W. and Doris Jones professor in the Department of Animal & Food Sciences.
Texas Tech's Meat Judging Team competed at the NWSS as well, with Shelton Luedke from Hondo, Texas, winning the high individual overall honors. He was followed closely by teammates Anna Wyle from Boerne, Texas, and Rachyl Kitten from Slaton, Texas. The team finished third overall thanks to a first-place finish in the Beef Judging category and a second-place finish in Overall-Beef, a combination of Beef Judging and Beef Grading.
Additional members of the Meat Judging Team are:
- Erik Bishop from Cypress, Texas
- Gunnar Griggs-Bell from Gunter, Texas
- Nikki Keeton from Wolfforth, Texas
- Macy Lawrence from Canyon, Texas
- Cameron Magee from Glenrock, Wyoming
- Riley Ritchie from Nipomo, California
- Ali William from Waller, Texas
The team is coached by graduate student Shae Lynn Sarchet and Mark Miller, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Chair in Meat Science, Food Processing and Preservation.