Graham Blagg wins high individual overall at NAILE
LOUISVILLE – Two members of the Livestock Judging Team, Megan Webb and Kassadi Click, were named to the prestigious All-American Livestock Judging Team at the 2012 North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky. in November.
Left, Kassadi Click and Megan Webb were named to the All-American Livestock Judging Team.
Webb, from Burlington, W. Va., is a senior animal science major and will graduate this December. Webb served as an officer of the Saddle & Sirloin Club and is a member of the animal science Aggie REPS. In addition to the Livestock Judging Team, Webb has been on the Horse Judging Team and the NCAA Equestrian Team. This summer, Webb studied abroad with Australia’s Agricultural Company and Meat and Livestock Australia. In 2011, Webb interned in Washington D.C. with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and was later selected as a delegate for the International Livestock Congress in Denver. Webb received the Senior Merit Award, the Animal Science Outstanding Senior Award and the National Junior Angus Association Richard Spader Public Speaking Award. After graduation, Webb will attend Colorado State University to pursue a master’s degree in meat science with an international focus in global beef production and demand.
Klick, from Muldrow, Okla., is a senior agriculture communications and journalism major with an emphasis in animal science. She serves on COALS Council and is an active member of the Saddle & Sirloin Club, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, Collegiate FFA, Aggie Peer Mentor and Farmers Fight. She’s been named an outstanding student of the College each semester and will graduate with honors. She has published several stories in major magazines and newspapers including DRIVE and the Land and Livestock Post. Klick will graduate in May 2013 and plans to either attend graduate school and earn a master’s degree in communications and marketing or pursue a job in the industry. Klick also owns a photography business. Prior to attending Texas A&M, Klick earned an associate degree in agriculture from Connors State College.
The All-American Team recognizes the top ten livestock judging team members from across the nation who have made a personal commitment to livestock judging and who have excelled in academics, university and industry activities, and community service.
Also in Louisville, the 2012 TAMU Senior Livestock Judging Team finished fifth overall in the NAILE Livestock Judging Contest. TAMU won high team in cattle and performance cattle; and fourth high team in reasons. In individual competition, Graham Blagg, from Grass Valley, Calif., won high individual overall and Conner Newsom, from San Angelo, won third high overall.
Oklahoma State University won the contest followed by Colorado State University, Western Illinois and Texas Tech University.
Other Texas A&M team members are Jonathan Chachere, Dayton; Shelly Sutton, Sinton; Brent Cromwell, Giddings; Tanner Wieghat, Wharton; Wes Kraintz, Winters, Calif.; Darin Peters, Stephenville; Lane Foster, Wylie; Brad Mendes, Modesto, Calif.; Kyle Phillips, Vidor; Stephanie Mazurkiewicz, Bryan; Cimmaron Osburn, Logan, N.M.; and Garrett Cline, Meridian.
In other judging competitions this fall, TAMU placed first in the Flint Hills Classic; 2nd in the Mid-American Classic; 3rd in the Tulsa State Fair; 2nd at the State Fair of Texas; and 2nd in the American Royal.
The team is coordinated by Jake Franke and coached by Jake Thorne.
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For more information regarding news from the Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, please contact Courtney Coufal at cacoufal@tamu.edu or (979) 845-1542.