Livestock Judging Team Wins in Fort Worth

Texas Tech University’s livestock judging team brought home its first win of the season this week as the students walked away with top honors Feb. 8 at the Southwestern Livestock Exposition’s Livestock Judging Contest in Fort Worth. The contest was an important win for the 16-member team.

Texas Tech won the horse, sheep, swine and reasons divisions, and were second in beef.  Texas A&M University, Kansas State University, West Texas A&M University and Sam Houston State University rounded out the top five teams overall.

“This is a very talented group of students from top to bottom,” said Ryan Rathmann, the team’s coach and an assistant professor in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences. “I’m expecting them to keep working hard and challenging each other to perform even better at the next two contests.”

Texas Tech boasted six of the top-ten individuals. Nick Fitzsimmons, a junior from Vail, Iowa, was high individual overall. Taylor Frank, a junior from Berthoud, Colo., finished second while Hayden Brown, a junior from Midland, was third.  Fifth-high individual was Austin Crissman, a junior from Bells; seventh-high individual was Bailey Riedel, a junior from San Luis Obispo, Calif.; and Garrett Foote, a junior from Texico, N.M. finished eighth.

Additional team members include:

• Brittany Blum, a junior from Howe
• Kylan Carson, a junior from Olton
• Colton Coker, a junior from Roby
• Cassie Godwin, a junior from Prescott, Ark.
• Tate Horwood, a junior from Sterling City
• Austin Langemeier, a junior from Marion
• Reina Lewis, a junior from Tulia
• Jacob Mckillip, a junior Lafayette, Ind.
• Ian Schaefer, a junior from Garden City
• Taylor Tjaden, a junior from San Angelo

The team is coached by Rathmann and graduate student Brady Ragland.

The team has two contests remaining this spring – one at the San Antonio Livestock Exposition and another at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.