Wool Judging Team Wins National Western Stock Show
January 22, 2009
Texas Tech team captures first champion honors since 1986; three individuals place in top ten.
Written by Cory Chandler
Texas Tech Wool Judging Team took home champion and reserve champion honors at the National Western Stock Show. Click to Enlarge.
Texas Tech University’s Wool Judging Team was awarded champion and reserve champion honors Jan. 17 at the National Western Stock Show in Denver.
The team narrowly defeated the competition – winning by two points – to claim the Denver competition for the first time since 1986.
The students have been preparing for the competition since August. Contestants graded one rail of 15 fleeces, placed six classes and presented two sets of oral reasons.
Teams from Texas A&M University and Angelo State University finished third and fourth, respectively. Kansas State University, Colorado State University and New Mexico State University also competed.
Three students placed in the top ten individuals: Aaron Renfroe, Markus Miller and Jeffrey Woods finished first, sixth and eighth, respectively.
The team is coached by graduate student L.J. Ashorn and Moriah Beyers, a coordinator in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences. Associate professor Sam Jackson supervises the program.
The team will represent Texas Tech at the San Antonio Stock Show in February and at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in March.
Team members are:
- Matthew Harris, a freshman from Spring
- Stormie McClurg, a freshman from Nazareth
- Katie Rose McCullough, a freshman from Castle Rock, Colo.
- Markus Miller, a freshman from Abernathy
- Brandon Reeves, a freshman from Staunton, Va.
- Nathan Reeves, a freshman from League City
- Aaron Renfroe, a senior from Ozona
- Ethan Schlegel, a freshman from Tribune, Kan.
- Troy Tarpley, a sophomore from Fort Stockton
- Tyler Vogel, a freshman from Canyon
- Trevor White, a freshman from New Home
- Jeffrey Woods, a freshman from Sweetwater
- Loni Woolley, a freshman from Grandview