The competitive teams in the Department of Animal Science wrapped up a successful semester and are gearing up for the busy season of competitions in spring of 2023. Below are recent updates from the Livestock Judging Team and the Meats Judging Team from December/early January.

Livestock Judging Team

The 2023 team has 100 classes under their belt in the month of December as we conclude Winter Workout, and the team is coming home with some highlights from Griswolds, but more importantly experienced tremendous growth and improvement to set the stage for the upcoming year.

Griswold Cattle Classic

4th and 7th high teams overall

  • John Reaves – High Individual overall
  • Kevin Jendrusch – 4th overall
  • Abby Johnson – 7th overall
  • Kaitlyn Cloud – 8th overall

Huge thanks to the following firms for showing us an incredible set of livestock.

RW Genetics

Brockman Farms

Blue Team Wethers

Kelly Hair Sheep

Davis Limousin

Chad Walker Livestock

Wilks Ranch

Franke Cattle

Jackson Cattle Co

OSU Swine Center

Buck Creek Cattle

Griswold Cattle

Lucky Strike

Pfeifer Farms

Express Ranches

Johnson Club Lambs

Bezner Beef

Barber Ranch

Schacher Family

Lackey Livestock

Horn Livestock

The 2022 official team picture is in, and we are proud to highlight this group one more time!

  • 16 members from 6 states
  • 27,000 miles traveled across 16 states
  • 14 total contests
  • 9x Champion Team (Most wins by an A&M team since 2006)
  • 5x Reserve Champion Team
  • Champion team in reasons 11 out of 12 times (no reasons at Griswold or NWSS Carload contests)
  • 53 top-10 overall individual finishes
  • 7 out of 10 Coaches Association Academic All-Americans (Most of all time)
  • 2022 Reserve National Champions

The picture is certainly full of an incredible amount of hard-earned hardware, but years from now, this team will be remembered for their tenacity, passion and competitive drive. And we are confident their legacy and impact on this industry will be much bigger than the trophies they captured!

Continue to make us proud!

Left to Right, Back Row: Carter Burgin, Spearman, TX; Gage Hogan, Sterling City, TX; Gunner Crawford, Adamstown, MD; Logan Jackson, Lipan, TX; Tar Tut, Faribault, MN; Mason Pape, Justin, TX; Michael Rezendes, Madera, CA; Seth Hilfiker, Holtville, CA Left to Right, Front Row: Caleb Boardman, Coach and Coordinator; Brook Nerving, Roscoe, TX; Kenzy Hoffmann, New Braunfels, TX; Logan Thomas, Raymondville, TX; Katie Kempen, San Antonio, TX; Kristen Massingill, Hamilton, TX; Lauren Thomas, Raymondville, TX; Emma Mercer, Hyattville, WY; Maddie Schroeder, Columbia City, IN; Landon Eldridge, Assistant Coach

Meat Judging Team

The 2023 meats team is on the road! The team consists of 14 students and is coached by Trent Stolowski, Meat Science Graduate Student. They are currently in the Texas Panhandle practicing for their first contest, The National Western, in Greeley, CO.

Team members include:

Brittley Bowers
Casey Murphy
Channing Pieniazek
Cody Sells
Elise Stovall
Emily Mutchler
Kadie Graves
Kaitlyn Kotrla
Karlie Lowe
Kayce Lopez
Maycee Foussadier
Patrick Kessler
Shane Molitor
Zachary Hoelscher

The Texas A&M Meat Judging Team