The Department of Animal Science competitive teams have been competing during a busy fall season with recent contests across the country. This month's update includes results for the livestock, meat, horse, ranch horse and rodeo teams.

Livestock Judging Team

The Texas A&M Livestock Judging Team recently competed at four contests including the Aksarben Stock Show in Nebraska, Flint Hills Fall Classic Livestock Judging Contest in Kansas, Tulsa State Fair in Oklahoma, and the State Fair of Texas.

Aksarben

Team results:

  • 2nd high team overall
  • 2nd high team reasons
  • 1st high team sheep/goats
  • 3rd high team cattle
  • 1st high team swine

Individual results:

  • Cooper Ford: 3rd individual overall, 6th in reasons, 1st high individual swine
  • Gunner Coburn: 8th individual overall, 10th in swine, 6th in sheep/goats
  • Kaley Pieper: 8th in reasons, 6th in swine
  • Taylor Turner: 3rd in reasons
  • Conner Knudson: 5th in reasons
  • Blake Petterson: 3rd in cattle
  • Tate Hogan: 7th in cattle
  • Emmitt Meyring: 2nd in sheep/goats
  • Hannah McElrath: 8th in swine
  • Cooper Thompson: 9th in swine
The Texas A&M Livestock Judging Team holding awards at the Aksarben contest.

Flint Hills Classic

Team results:

  • 3rd & 5th high teams overall
  • 3rd high team reasons
  • 3rd & 4th high teams swine
  • 3rd high team sheep/goats
  • 4th high team cattle

Individual results:

  • Kaley Pieper: 4th high individual overall, 8th in reasons, 4th in swine, 4th in sheep/goats, 10th in cattle
  • Taylor Turner: 6th in reasons, 6th in swine
  • Karson Patton: 8th in sheep/goats
  • Hunter Knudson: 10th in sheep/goats

Tulsa State Fair 

Team results:

  • 2nd high team overall
  • 4th high team reasons
  • 4th high team sheep/goats
  • 2nd high team swine
  • 2nd high team cattle

Individual results:

  • Tate Hogan: high individual overall, 5th in cattle, 2nd sheep/goats
  • Emmitt Meyring: 9th high individual overall, 8th in cattle, 9th in swine
  • Taylor Turner: 7th in cattle, 9th in reasons
  • Weston McElroy: 10th in sheep/goats
  • Cooper Thompson: 7th in sheep/goats
The Texas A&M Livestock Judging Team holding awards at the Tulsa State Fair.

State Fair of Texas

Team results:

  • 3rd high team overall
  • 1st high team sheep/goats
  • 3rd high team cattle
  • 2nd high team reasons
  • 3rd high team swine

Individual results:

  • Conner Knudson: high individual overall, 8th in reasons, 1st in sheep/goats, 4th in swine
  • Weston McElroy: 2nd high individual overall, 2nd in sheep/goats, 3rd in swine
  • Cooper Ford: 6th high individual overall, 2nd in cattle, 6th in reasons
  • Karson Patton: 8th high individual overall, 4th in cattle
  • Taylor Turner: 6th in cattle
  • Kendahl Nix: 8th in cattle
  • Emmitt Meyring: 3rd in reasons
  • Gunner Coburn: 5th in reasons, 5th in sheep/goats, 6th in swine
  • Kayley Pieper: 9th in reasons
  • Kyle Real: 10th in reasons, 2nd in swine

The team is coached by Kyle Despain and John Reaves.

The Texas A&M Livestock Judging Team holding awards at the Askarben contest.

Meat Judging Team

The Texas A&M Meat Judging Team competed at the Eastern National Meat Judging Contest in Wyalusing, Pennsylvania, bringing home the champion team title.

Team results:

  • Reasons 1st
  • Pork 1st
  • Lamb 1st
  • Placings 2nd
  • Beef 3rd
  • Beef Grading 3rd
  • Specs 4th

Individual results:

  • Kyla Beck: 1st high individual, 1st reasons, 1st pork, 2nd lamb, 5th placing
  • Dillon Prokop: 5th high individual, 4th beef grading
  • Nathan Kerth: 7th high individual, 5th lamb, 5th specs
  • Avery Flanagan: 4th pork, 2nd reasons

Other team members include Landon Southern, Karson Kurtz, Shelby Pieniazek, Logann Weidenfeller, Gavin Kubala, Maggie DelaCerda, & Maddie Unruh. The team is coached by Lauren Lee & Jennifer Wyle.

The Texas A&M Meat Judging Team pictured at the Eastern National Meat Judging Contest.

Horse Judging Team

The Texas A&M Horse Judging Team competed at the American Paint Horse Association Lonestar Gathering Contest, sweeping every division of the contest. In addition, for the fourth year in a row, a member of the team won high individual overall. The program put forward two teams which captured 1st and 3rd high team overall.

Overall results:

  • Overall Champion Team
  • Elena Betteridge: high individual overall
  • Gabby Shultz: 4th
  • Anelise Wilson: 5th
  • Brianna Bongard: 6th
  • AJ Kendrick: 7th

Halter:

  • Champion Team
  • 1st: Elena Betteridge
  • 5th: Brianna Bongard
  • 6th: AJ Kendrick
  • 7th: Anelise Wilson

Performance:

  • Champion Team
  • 1st: Gabrielle Shultz
  • 2nd: Anelise Wilson
  • 5th: AJ Kendrick
  • 6th: Brianna Bongard
  • 7th: Elena Betteridge

Reasons:

  • Champion Team
  • 2nd: Elena Betteridge
  • 3rd: Gabby Shultz
  • 4th: Anelise Wilson
  • 9th: AJ Kendrick
  • 10th: Brianna Bongard

The 2024 All-Star Horse Judging Team is represented by Evyn Barnes , Brianna Bongard, Elena Betteridge, Rachel Kuhlman, AJ Kendrick , Matthew Hager, Gabrielle Shultz, Hannah Vierling, Anelise Wilson, Assistant Coach Megan Miller and Coach Sarah Schobert.

The Texas A&M Horse Judging Team at the APHS Lonestar Gathering Contest.

Ranch Horse Team

The Ranch Horse Team had a great showing at the Aggieland Classic SHTX Show. Team members finished in the overall top 10 in their divisions.

Collegiate Non-Pro

  • Josh Nichols
  • Trinity Moody

Collegiate Limited Non-Pro

  • Haley Winkler (champion)

Collegiate Novice

  • Leila Anderson

Limited Non-Pro

  • Haley Winkler (champion)

Novice

  • Karli Rayburn
The Texas A&M Ranch Horse Team at the Aggieland Classic.
Haley Winkler pictured with her awards.

Texas Aggie Rodeo Team

The Texas Aggie Rodeo Team kicked off the fall season at the Panola College Rodeo, followed by Uvalde.

Panola College

Bareback

  • Gavin French: 3rd Avg

Goat Tying

  • Tylie McDonald: 3rd Avg
  • Madalyn Richards: 4th Avg
  • Lucy Richards: 5th Avg
  • Aly Ghormley: 6/7th Long Go

Team Roping

  • Thatcher Baumann & Murt Steward: 6th Avg

Barrel Racing

  • Mckinlee Paschal: 1st Long Go
  • Millie Frey: 5th Long Go
  • Allie Frey: 8th Long Go

Steer Wrestling

  • Boyd Hanagriff: 5th Avg

Uvalde SWTXC

Bareback

  • Gavin French: 3rd/4th Long Go

Goat Tying

  • Lucy Richards: 4th/5th Long Go
  • Madalyn Richards: 5th Avg

Calf Roping

  • Connor Atkinson: 4th/5th Avg
  • Peyton Mathis: 9th Long Go
  • Bryson Dyer: 10th Long Go

Barrel Racing

  • McKinlee Paschal: Champion
  • Jesse Harris: 4th Avg
  • Ceily Simpton: 10th Long Go

Steer Wrestling

  • Boyd Hanagriff: 5th Avg