Texas A&M Animal Science competitive teams began the spring semester with top finishes across national judging, academic competition and ranch horse. Students competed across multiple states, earning major team awards, individual honors and a sixth consecutive regional championship.

Fightin’ Texas Aggie Meat Judging Team

The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Meat Judging Team traveled to Greeley, Colorado, to compete in the 2026 National Western Meat Judging Contest hosted by JBS, finishing fourth overall against a national field of collegiate programs.  

Team Awards

  • 4th Overall Team
  • 2nd Beef Grading
  • 4th Lamb Judging
  • 5th Pork Judging
  • 2nd Beef Judging
  • 2nd Specifications (Perfect Score, 400)
  • 5th Total placings
  • 5th Reasons

Individual Awards

  • Brady Prukop — 3rd Overall, 2nd Beef Grading, 3rd Beef Judging, 1st Specifications
  • Ava Harborth — 10th overall, 4th Lamb Judging
  • Marti Ducote — 4th Beef Judging, 5th Reasons
  • Gentry Greiner — 4th Specifications
  • Sarah Keesecker — 2nd High Individual Alternate
  • Cale Cornelius — 3rd High Individual Alternate
The 2026 Fightin' Texas Aggie Meat Judging Team. They are posing for a photo in western business attire and holding ribbons and plaques.

The team later traveled to Ennis, Texas, for the Southwestern Meat Judging Contest, earning another fourth-place overall finish and multiple top category awards.

Team Awards

  • 4th Overall Team
  • 1st Beef Judging
  • 1st Reasons
  • 2nd Lamb Judging
  • 2nd Beef Judging
  • 4th Pork Judging
  • 4th Specifications
  • 4th Total Placings
  • 5th Beef Grading

Individual Awards

  • Brady Prukop — 5th Overall, 2nd lamb Judging, 3rd Reasons
  • Sarah Keesecker — 1st Beef Judging, 4th Reasons
  • Ava Harborth — 5th Beef Judging
  • Abigail Slack — 9th High Individual Alternate
The 2026 Fightin' Texas Aggie Meat Judging Team. They are posing for a photo in western business attire and holding ribbons and plaques.

Academic Quadrathlon Team

The Texas A&M Academic Quadrathlon Team traveled to Rogers, Arkansas, to compete in the 2026 American Society of Animal Science Southern Section Academic Quadrathlon hosted by the University of Arkansas. The team captured the overall championship, marking its sixth consecutive regional title and qualifying to compete at the national contest in Wisconsin in summer 2026.

Team Results

  • 1st Place Overall Champions
  • 1st Place Quiz Bowl
  • 1st Place Oral Presentation
  • 2nd Place Skills Examination
  • 2nd Place Written Examination

Team member include David Kendrick, Ben Flanagan, Lily Ford and Mia Moderski.

The 2026 Texas A&M Academic Quadrathlon Team. Students are posing for a photo in front of a ASAS banner holding a thumbs up and a plaque.

Ranch Horse Team

Texas A&M Ranch Horse teams traveled to Fort Worth, Texas, to compete at the Bridles and Brains Collegiate Ranch Horse Competition during the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. Competitors earned major individual honors and strong team finishes, including a second-place overall finish for Team Maroon.

Maroon Team Highlights

  • 2nd Place Overall
  • 4th Public Speech
  • 2nd Media Interview
  • 3rd Reining — Charlee Proctor
  • 3rd Trail — Charlee Proctor

White Team Highlights

  • 3rd Public Speech
  • 1st Trail — Ella Fowler
  • 2nd Reining — Ella Fowler
  • 2nd Trail — Rosemary Hartman
  • 4th Trail — Ella Hopkins

Individual Awards

  • Top Horse — Whisslestop, Ridden by Ella Fowler
  • Reserve MVP — Tucker Gillespie
Texas A&M Ranch Horse Team posing for a photo in a rodeo arena. They are in western attire and holding large winning checks.