UA livestock team Grade A
Sheena Smith, Staff Writer
Issue date: 11/18/05 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
The UA's livestock team has returned after another successful weekend. The team left Friday for the North American International Livestock Judging contest in Louisville, Ky. Out of more than 30 teams nationwide, the UA livestock team placed sixth in a very close contest. One week before, the team placed fifth out of 25 universities at the American Royal in Kansas City, Mo.
The livestock team is made up of six members. Students Tonya Brown of Tecumseh, Okla., Cody Martin of Panama, Okla., Chase Groves of Garland, and Chase Hilton of Mena, are this year's team members. The team also includes Jeremy Huff of Mena, and Lauren Gaston of Oden, both of whom are All-Americans in livestock competitions.
The livestock team participates in dozens of competitions each year. The team consists of undergraduate students who judge livestock used for breeding and meat.
"Sheep, cattle and hogs are usually the animals covered but some competitions include goats and horses," said Bryan Kutz, the livestock team's coach.
The team members judge a group of four animals for each species and a contest consisting of 12 classes. The students evaluate and put the animals in order based on industry standards. They also give explanations for why they put them in that order. The team members each give 8 sets of reasons per contest. The winners are determined by how closely the students' judgments are to a panel of officials and their reasons for placing them in that order.
It takes many hours of dedication to be a successful judging team, Groves said. The members have to practice at least four times a week and spend many hours on the road in order to see livestock.
Groves said much of the team's success is due to Kutz's coaching. Their travels have taken them from Phoenix, Ariz. to Austin, Minn. and from Denver, Colo. to Jackson Miss.
Kutz said this is the Arkansas livestock judging team's most successful year. They were the national champion car-load team at the National Western in Denver, Colo. The team has also won the Mid-South and All-East competitions in cities across the country. The team has placed in the top 10 for four competitions and in the top five for seven competitions since the beginning of the year.
The North American International Livestock Judging contest was the last competition of the year for this team. It decides who the national championship team is. "This is the equivalent of football's Orange Bowl, except every school has a team playing," said Brown.
The livestock team is made up of six members. Students Tonya Brown of Tecumseh, Okla., Cody Martin of Panama, Okla., Chase Groves of Garland, and Chase Hilton of Mena, are this year's team members. The team also includes Jeremy Huff of Mena, and Lauren Gaston of Oden, both of whom are All-Americans in livestock competitions.
The livestock team participates in dozens of competitions each year. The team consists of undergraduate students who judge livestock used for breeding and meat.
"Sheep, cattle and hogs are usually the animals covered but some competitions include goats and horses," said Bryan Kutz, the livestock team's coach.
The team members judge a group of four animals for each species and a contest consisting of 12 classes. The students evaluate and put the animals in order based on industry standards. They also give explanations for why they put them in that order. The team members each give 8 sets of reasons per contest. The winners are determined by how closely the students' judgments are to a panel of officials and their reasons for placing them in that order.
It takes many hours of dedication to be a successful judging team, Groves said. The members have to practice at least four times a week and spend many hours on the road in order to see livestock.
Groves said much of the team's success is due to Kutz's coaching. Their travels have taken them from Phoenix, Ariz. to Austin, Minn. and from Denver, Colo. to Jackson Miss.
Kutz said this is the Arkansas livestock judging team's most successful year. They were the national champion car-load team at the National Western in Denver, Colo. The team has also won the Mid-South and All-East competitions in cities across the country. The team has placed in the top 10 for four competitions and in the top five for seven competitions since the beginning of the year.
The North American International Livestock Judging contest was the last competition of the year for this team. It decides who the national championship team is. "This is the equivalent of football's Orange Bowl, except every school has a team playing," said Brown.
