Herding with the Team
After a long day of judging bulls and heifers at Sanchez Cattle Company in Fredericksburg, Texas, judging members push bulls back into their correct pens while taking in some scenery.
Admiring a Job Well Done
Advisor: Dr. Stanley Kelley, Clayton Gardovsky
The Livestock Judging program consists of seniors and juniors interested in competitive livestock evaluation. These undergraduates are divided into two teams, the junior and senior team, based on classification. Initially, the junior team attends the winter contests at Express Ranches (Yukon, OK) and Exposure Female Sale (Stillwater, OK). Then the team travels to the National Western Stock Show (Denver), Ft. Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, San Antonio Livestock Exposition, and Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The junior team will evolve into the senior team when they return for the fall and travel to the following contests: National Barrow Show in Austin, MN; State Fair of Texas in Dallas; Tulsa State Fair; American Royal in Kansas City, MO; and North American Exposition in Louisville, KY. Not only will individuals travel around the United States stopping at many production systems, and competing on a national level against other universities, but also will gain time management, critical thinking, and oral presentation skills. Individuals can expect to help the community of Huntsville, and surrounding areas by putting on a variety of different contest to help 4-H and FFA members expand their knowledge of the livestock industry. Just as importantly, livestock judging provides an opportunity for students to network with the industry as they visit with producers as the farm and ranch about livestock and production practices. It provides an opportunity to learn from those directly involved with the industry.