NCTA Livestock Team competes at Houston

Curtis, Neb. – The Aggie Livestock Judging Team of the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture at Curtis has returned from its final contest of the year, placing 16th overall in collegiate teams at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in Houston, Texas.
“The judging team had a successful trip to Houston,” noted Coach Doug Smith, NCTA assistant professor of animal science.  Team members from freshman and sophomore classes have participated in the 2016 season.  They were assisted by Emily Whipple of Cambridge.
At Houston, the team was 6^th overall in placing the various species of livestock, 11^th in judging sheep, 10^th in goats, 13^th in swine, 16^th in cattle and oral reasons, and 16^th team overall, Smith said.
Emilye Vales of DeWitt, Neb., was sixth-place judging in in both categories of sheep and goats. Calvin DeVries of Fairfield was 18^th in placings of all species, and Bailey Hinrichs of Ayr, Neb., was 20^th.
“The sophomores have completed quite a run this year,” Smith said. “They had several top five contest finishes, a couple of top ten finishes, and all of the team placings have been in the top 20 at every contest.”
A final competition will be in mid-April when a few of team members participation in the National Association of Colleges and Teachers in Agriculture.
Additional information about NCTA’s livestock judging team scholarships or animal science programs is available at ncta.unl.edu or by contacting Dr. Smith at (308) 367-5286.