The livestock judging team at Texas A&M University-Commerce displays
awards won during the 2005 season. (A&M-Commerce photo)
(Commerce)—The livestock judging team at Texas A&M University-Commerce is ranked in the top ten nationally.
The team finished the season recently ranked seventh nationally.
The A&M-Commerce students had a "tremendous performance" at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky., said Dr. Byron Housewright, agricultural sciences faculty member.
A&M-Commerce scored 4,700 points out of a possible 5,000 and was only 12 points behind Texas A&M University. A&M-Commerce ranked higher than Kansas State University, California State at Chico, Western Illinois University, Texas Tech, Iowa State, Oregon State, and Tarleton State. Taking the top spot was Oklahoma State University with 4,776 points, a new record for the contest.
A&M-Commerce team member Johnny Hill of Grand Saline ranked sixth highest in the individual rankings in the sheep judging and tied for 10th highest individual overall. Other team members are Tyler Dewey of Poteau, Okla., Randi Knight of Stanton, Doug Annuschat of Kingfisher, Okla., Chris Gilbreath of Winnsboro, Brian Campbell of Colonial Heights, Va., and Jonathan Larue of Moran, Kan.
Dr. Pat Bagley, A&M-Commerce head of the Department of Agricultural Sciences, said he was definitely impressed that Housewright and Tom Bean graduate assistant Chris Ellason could train a team to compete with and beat many of the large land grant institutions that have many more students and large travel budgets to support their livestock judging team programs.
"The outstanding showing by A&M-Commerce students made us all proud and demonstrated that hard work and great students can combine to allow us to compete against the finest of the large agriculture programs in the nation," Bagley said.
A&M-Commerce does not have a budget for the livestock judging team and to earn money to help pay their expenses the students cleaned Memorial Stadium after football games. Dean of Students Joe Webber also provided some funds.
Housewright said the livestock judging students work long hours, get no college credit for this activity, and were the only school in attendance at the contest that had no budget from their institution. "These students are examples of what hard work, dedication, teamwork, and overcoming obstacles can accomplish," he said.
At the contests, the students judge sheep, cattle, and hogs. For the 2005 season that started last January and ended last November, the students went to competitions in Denver, Colo., Shreveport, La., Fort Worth, Jackson, Miss., Memphis, Tenn., Tulsa, Okla., Kansas City, Mo., Dallas, as well as Louisville.
Campbell, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in December, said he made a lot of "good connections" in the agricultural field by being on the team.
"These students probably know more professionals in their area of study. They are on a first-name basis with 30 or more faculty members," Housewright said. "It's kind of a big fraternity."
The A&M-Commerce students on the team members enjoy each other's company. "There is a family atmosphere among the nine of us on the team," Annuschat said.
Most of the students grew up judging livestock at FFA and 4-H events, and they practice by going to other universities, ranches, and high school FFA barns - "wherever we can find good animals," Housewright said.
At the contests, the students learned to think on their feet, gained self-confidence, and practice in speaking and giving the reasons why they gave a specific score to an animal.
Of their Louisville national ranking, Annuschat and Campbell said the students were excited they did so well. "I was glad we were in the Top Ten," Annuschat said.
This month, Housewright will begin recruiting students for the next livestock judging team. The new team will start entering competitions in January 2007.