Livestock Judging Team Wins Big at National Western

Written by Erin Hawes

The 2010 Livestock Judging Team won its first contest at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colo. The team won the contest by a 46-point margin, posting a total team score of 4,770 points.

The Red Raiders won every division – cattle, sheep and goats, swine and oral reasons.

"I am extremely proud of the perseverance of these young men and women," said Ryan Rathmann, assistant professor and coach of the team. "I am looking forward to working hard to achieve more wins this season."

Individually, team member Caleb Crosswhite, a junior from McKinney, achieved the rank of high individual overall. Josh Cribbs, a junior from Plant City, Fla., Ben Scott, a junior from Douglas, Ga., and Chelsea Clifton, a junior from Kingfisher, Okla., also finished in the top 10 overall.

In addition to Crosswhite, Cribbs, Scott and Clifton, team members include:

• Riggin Barham, a junior from Blooming Grove
• Brittany Boxwell, a junior from Perryton
• Kirby Carpenter, a junior from Kiowa, Colo.
• Collin Corbin, a junior from League City
• Meagan Igo, a junior from Plainview
• Tyler Maltsberger, a junior from Helotes
• Josh McCann, a junior from Newport, Va.
• Stormie McClurg, a sophomore from Nazareth
• Chance Neff, a junior from San Angelo
• Brandon Reeves, a sophomore from Mt. Solon, Va.
• Henry Ruiz, a junior from Eagle Pass
• Martin Shaw, a junior from Hilmar. Calif.
• Peyton Wilde, a junior from Wall

The team is coached by Rathmann and graduate student Bryan Bernhard.

The National Western Stock Show officially began in 1906 and is one of the nation's oldest and largest shows with a prestigious history of livestock judging contests.