Kansas State University’s Animal Sciences and Industry competition teams have excelled during their 2017 seasons. KSU ASI students were named the 2017 National Champion Meat Animal Evaluation Team, 2017 World Champion Horse Judging Team, 2017 Reserve National Champion Meat Judging Team, 2017 Reserve National Champion Livestock Judging Team and the 2017 Reserve National Champion Animal Science Academic Quadrathlon Team.

“We are proud of our students and coaches for their hard work and accomplishments,” says Ken Odde, K-State ASI department head. “Participating on a collegiate competition team requires a lot of dedication and commitment. These students not only excelled in their respective competitions throughout the year but they continued to keep a focus on their academics as well.”

Six students were awarded the title of “All-American” to honor their judging careers. The All-American award is based on the individual’s judging excellence, academic skill, community service and industry leadership. All-American honorees from the livestock judging team include: Chase Gleason, Uniontown, Kansas; Callahan Grund, Wallace, Kansas; Brooke Jensen, Courtland, Kansas; and Leah Scholz, Lancaster, Kansas. Eric Koehlmoos, Granville, Iowa, was named to the meat judging First Team All-American and teammate Jayne Bannister, Kent, New York, was awarded Second Team All-American honors.

The KSU Horse Judging Team claimed the title of the 2017 World Champion Senior Team on Sunday, November 12, at the AQHA World Championship Show in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Cameron Hayden, ASI junior, was high individual overall, and the team secured the first-place spot in both performance and reasons and they finished second in halter. The Horse Judging Team is coached by Dr. James Lattimer and assistants Katherine Jordan and Rachel Sorensen.

The K-State Livestock Judging Team ended its season winning Reserve National Champion honors in Louisville, Kentucky, at the 112^th National Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest hosted as part of the North American International Livestock Exposition. Two team members placed in the top 10 — Brooke Jensen, Courtland, Kansas, was sixth overall, and Matt Marion, West Terre Haute, Indiana, was ninth overall. The Livestock Judging Team is coached by Chris Mullinix and assistant Spencer Scotten.

The K-State Meats Judging Team finished their season as the Reserve National Champions International Meat Judging Contest in Dakota City, Nebraska, on November 12. The team was second in beef grading, overall beef, pork and total placing. They were fourth in beef judging, lamb judging and reasons. The team finished fifth in specification. Koehlmoos was the third overall high individual. The K-State Meats Judging Team is coached by Dr. Terry Houser and graduate students Allie Hobson and Lane Giess.

The Kansas State Meat Animal Evaluation Team won the national champion title at the 2017 Collegiate Meat Animal Evaluation Contest in April. The team won the market animal, breeding and communication divisions. Three K-State team members placed in the overall top five. Chase Gleason, Uniontown, Kansas, was the high individual. Shelby Teague, Fort Morgan, Colorado, placed third overall and Brooke Jensen, Courtland, Kansas, was fourth overall. The team was coached by Dr. Travis O’Quinn and Chris Mullinix and assisted by graduate students Austin Langemeir and Lauren Prill.

The National Animal Science Academic Quadrathlon was hosted at the University of Maryland – College Park, near Baltimore, July 8-12. At this contest, the team from Kansas State University was named Reserve National Champion due to winning Quiz Bowl, placing second in Laboratory Practicum, placing third in the Oral Presentation and fourth in Written Exam. The team consisted of Jenna Chance, Lebanon, Indiana; Cameron Hayden, Cassopolis, Michigan; Taylor Ochsner, Andover, Kansas; and MaRyka Smith, Hoyt, Kansas. The Quadrathlon team is coached by Dr. Karol Fike.

Source: Kansas State University