Freshmen judgers take first, second overall
The Casper College Freshman Livestock Judging Team ended the judging season on a high note with impressive wins, including both first and second place overall at the Grand National Stock Show.
In addition to the overall wins, the team took home the top two team spots in reasons; won first and second in cattle and first in sheep judging. “We set goals to strive for excellence in practice, and these students give 100 percent. By striving for 100 percent in practice, winning just naturally follows,” says Kolby Burch, freshman livestock judging coach and agriculture instructor.
Individually, the team excelled as well with Samantha Ufford (Vernal, Utah) claiming the “high spot” and winning a “beautiful buckle.” Erin Marvin (Keensburg, Colo.) took second overall and Megan Brumfield (Shepherd, Mont.) was third overall and tied for first in reasons with Kaylee Kerbs (Saratoga, Wyo.) who also finished sixth overall.
Blake Kawcak (Craig, Colo.) finished first in placings “with an impressive low drop of eight points and finished fourth overall,” says Burch. Josh Johnson (McDonald, Kan.) placed fifth overall.
The Grand National Stock Show was held in San Francisco at the legendary Cow Palace.
”Going to San Francisco was a lifetime experience for many of these judgers. These freshmen haven’t been out much, they have mostly been here at the college working in preparation of their sophomore year as judgers. They have been very successful at the handful of contests they did compete at,” Burch said.
According to Burch those contests were the Iowa Beef Expo where the team placed ninth and tenth against sophomore judgers; the Oklahoma Panhandle State Contest where the team won the freshman contest; and the West Texas A&M Contest where the team placed third and the four top-placing individuals were all Casper College judgers.
“I am really looking forward to next year with these judgers,” says Burch. “It looks to be a promising one.”