Department Updates

Students lines up in a dirt arena holding maroon and white banners.

Yates Family Livestock Judging Extravaganza brings youth competitors to Texas A&M

May 19th, 2026

The Texas A&M Livestock Judging Team hosted the first annual Yates Family Livestock Judging Extravaganza this past weekend, welcoming youth livestock judgers from across Texas to campus for two days of competition, education and skill development. The event provided students the opportunity to evaluate livestock classes while learning from industry professionals and collegiate livestock judging… Read More →

Interdisciplinary collaboration advances equine motion capture research at Texas A&M

May 13th, 2026

Researchers from across Texas A&M University recently brought equine science and advanced motion capture technology together at the Starlab on the Texas A&M-RELLIS campus. The project brought together collaborators from the Department of Animal Science, Institute for Equine Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management and the Starlab team in the College of Engineering. Jennifer Zoller, Ph.D., associate… Read More →

Clay Mathis, Ph.D., Department of Animal Science professor and department head, and Molly McAdams on Friday, Apr 24, 2026, in College Station, Texas. (Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife)

Animal Science Awards Banquet: A night to celebrate students, faculty, staff, and alumni

April 27th, 2026

The 2026 Animal Science Awards Banquet recognized students, faculty, staff and alumni at the Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center on April 24. The Department of Animal Science awarded $257,500 in scholarships to 261 graduate and undergraduate students for the 2026-27 academic year. Distinguished awards were presented to alumni, faculty, staff and students. These achievements would not… Read More →

Competitive Teams: April update

April 21st, 2026

Texas A&M Animal Science competitive teams continued a successful spring season with national championships, reserve national titles and top finishes across regional and national competition. Students represented the department in rodeo, livestock judging, ranch horse, horse judging, meat animal evaluation and dairy challenge events, earning honors in Texas, South Dakota, Alberta, Canada, and beyond while… Read More →

Knippa family supports livestock judging team through hands-on giving

April 1st, 2026

Gift provides critical travel support for student competitors For Darnell ’70 and Lynette Knippa, giving back to Texas A&M focuses on meeting real, immediate needs that impact students. Their recent gift to support van rentals for the livestock judging team ensures students can travel safely and consistently to competitions across the country. “We have donated… Read More →

Animal Science graduate students selected for International Livestock Congress

March 17th, 2026

Graduate students represent Texas A&M at global livestock forum Five Texas A&M Department of Animal Science graduate students were selected to participate in the International Livestock Congress, a global forum on the future of animal agriculture held during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in Houston. They were selected by the International Stockmen’s Educational Foundation. The students… Read More →

Texas A&M 2025-2026 Livestock Judging Team at the SALE

Competitive Teams: March Update

March 16th, 2026

Texas A&M Animal Science competitive teams continued the spring season with strong finishes across ranch horse, livestock judging, rodeo, meat judging, horse judging and wool judging contests. Students earned team championships, reserve championships and individual honors at events across Texas. Ranch Horse Team The Texas A&M Ranch Horse Team competed at the Stock Horse of Texas… Read More →

National FFA Week: A lasting connection to Animal Science

February 25th, 2026

As National FFA Week is recognized across the country, the Texas A&M Department of Animal Science celebrates the organization’s longstanding influence on its students, faculty and staff. For many in the department, FFA served as an early introduction to agriculture and animal science. Experiences in career development events, supervised agricultural experiences, and leadership opportunities helped… Read More →

Kenneth Purser and Dr. and Mrs. Tanksley smile for a photo.

Purser establishes livestock judging team endowment to honor mentor

February 16th, 2026

For Kenneth Purser, Ph.D. ’76, ’79, creating the Dr. T.D. Tanksley Jr. ’46 Livestock Judging Team Endowed Scholarship served as both a personal tribute and an investment in future Aggies. “Dr. Tanksley was a major influence in my life,” Purser said. “The endowment is my way of trying to recognize that influence.” Purser earned his… Read More →

Texas A&M Animal Science student launches Cattlemen’s Classic

February 12th, 2026

Student-founded judging contest opens doors for new and returning competitors Providing entry-level opportunities that introduce participants to the beef industry remains an important part of developing future leaders in agriculture. To help meet that need, Kylan Canon ’28, a student in Texas A&M University’s Department of Animal Science, founded the Cattlemen’s Classic, a cattle judging… Read More →