Texas Tech Meat Judging Team Claims 2009 National Championship

Written by Jessica Behnham

Texas Tech University’s Meat Judging Team earned the national championship title at the American Meat Science Association’s International Meat Judging Contest held Nov. 15 in Dakota City, Neb. The team won the contest by an 18-point margin, and was undefeated at six of the seven national contests during the 2009 judging season, making it one of the most successful teams since meat judging began at Texas Tech in 1938. The team won the beef judging, specifications and reasons divisions, finished second in total beef, and had an overall team score of 4,052 points. “This team has worked extremely hard to accomplish their goal,” said Mark Miller, professor and San Antonio Livestock Show Distinguished Chair in Meat Science. “They were blessed with the national championship, and I couldn’t be more proud of their efforts.” The top-five teams in the contest included South Dakota State University, Oklahoma State University, the University of Illinois and Kansas State University, which finished second through fifth respectively. Individually, Collin Corbin, a junior from League City, placed third overall in the competition. Texas Tech’s Josh McCann, a junior from Newport, Va. also boasted high individual in the alternate division. Four other Red Raiders joined him in the top 10 of the alternate division. Adam Copeland, a junior from Katy; Henry Ruiz, a senior from Eagle Pass; Josh Hasty, a senior from Cleburne; and Brandon O’Quinn, a junior from League City, finished second, third, fourth and sixth, respectively. Other team members include:

• Matt Bruton, a junior from Throckmorton
• Sarah Calhoun, a junior from Weatherford
• Tate Corliss, a senior from Estancia, N.M.
• Kelsey Fletcher, a junior from Universal City
• Kelly Hutton, a junior from Castle Rock, Colo.
• Meagan Igo, a junior from Plainview
• Amber Krause, a junior from Florence
• Abby Long, a junior from Boerne

Team members Corbin and Igo were named to the 2009 First Team All-American Team. Long and Bruton were named to the 2009 Second Team All-American Team. The members of the All American Teams are selected based upon scholastic achievement and competition performance. The team is coached by Miller and graduate student Travis O’Quinn. CONTACT: Moriah Beyers, coordinator of meat science programs, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-2805, or moriah.beyers@ttu.edu.