Agricultural News
OSU Livestock Judging Team takes Top spot at Nationals
Mon, 22 Nov 2021 12:58:06 CST
Oklahoma State University's Livestock Judging Team and coach earned top honors for a historic 21st time at the recent North American International Livestock Exposition.
In addition to the OSU Department of Animal and Food Sciences students winning the 2020-2021 National Champion award, Parker Henley, assistant professor and OSU Extension specialist, was named Coach of the Year by the National Collegiate Livestock Coaches' Association.
Since the team claimed victory for the first time in 1925, OSU students have earned more national championships at the competition than any other university in the country. The consistency and quality of their accomplishments shouldn't be a surprise to anyone by now, Henley said.
"These students have created a tradition of excellence that only grows stronger as each new class steps up to the challenge, contributing their own gifts to that legacy," he said, adding that the 10-year and 40-year national champion teams from OSU also were recognized at this year's awards banquet.
This was Henley's first time to lead the OSU team, and it was his first national championship. The students were also coached by Will Shelby, a former team member and current student of the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine.
The team dominated the contest with high individual scores, positioning them to win every division, including goats, swine and cattle, as well as the reasons division. They ended the event with a 102-point lead, the greatest margin of victory ever recorded at the North American International Livestock Exposition, Henley said.
Individual honors by team members this year included:
• Phoebe Rogers of Hennessey, Oklahoma named High Individual Overall.
• Macey Goretska of Abilene, Texas earned the fourth High Individual spot and tied with a trio of fellow contestants to win the reasons division.
• Ty Taylor of Centralia, Oklahoma; Tanner Walden of Tonganoxie, Kansas; and Mattie Haynes of Jay, Oklahoma were the fifth, 10th and 11th High Individuals Overall, respectively.
• Haynes, Goretska and Grace Harris of Horatio, Arkansas, were named All-American award winners for their dedication to livestock judging, academic success, university and industry activities, and community involvement.
Other members of the team are: Jacob Bedell of Yukon, Oklahoma; Blair Cupps of Burlington, Kentucky; Calvin Johnson of Vinita, Oklahoma; Danielle Nading of Fort Scott, Kansas; Bailey Osborn of Kingman, Kansas; Natally Owen of Mustang, Oklahoma; Johnna Stottlemyre of Luther, Oklahoma; and Raylyn Thompson of Adair, Oklahoma.
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