NCTA Aggies judge at Ak-Sar-Ben

NCTA Aggies judge at Ak-Sar-Ben

NCTA students evaluate livestock in a Saturday workout at Jensen Bros. Herefords in Kansas. (Photo by Doug Smith / NCTA)
NCTA students evaluate livestock in a Saturday workout at Jensen Bros. Herefords in Kansas. (Photo by Doug Smith / NCTA)

Oct. 2, 2018
By Mary Crawford, NCTA News

GRAND ISLAND – A whirlwind weekend workout helped prepare NCTA Aggie students for their first livestock judging contest of the season.


Animal science students with the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture livestock judging team first evaluated beef cattle in Courtland, Kansas and then more livestock in Lincoln, Nebraska during a 1-day practice session last Saturday.


On Sunday, the 10 Aggies stepped into the livestock arena at the Ak-Sar-Ben Livestock Judging Contest in Grand Island and put their animal evaluation and oral reasoning skills to the real test.


The sophomore team placed 7th judging sheep and goats, and 8th overall with 8th place in beef cattle, swine and oral reasons, said Doug Smith, NCTA coach and Animal Science and Agricultural Education division chair.


“The team had a good weekend,” Smith said. “We appreciated the opportunity for workouts at Jensen Bros. Herefords in Kansas, and then at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln before heading to Grand Island.”


Among 80 contestants, Peyton McCord of Cairo was 9th in placings and Will Moeller of Grand Island was in the top 20 in placings. Rachel Miller of Basehor, Kansas placed 22nd in sheep and goat evaluation.


Freshman students judged individually among 93 contestants. Garret Lapp of Adamsville, Ohio, was 9th high in beef catle, 26th overall, and 33rd in sheep and goats. Tiffany Dickau of Elwood was 24th in swine judging.


Others on the team were sophomores Colbey Luebbe, Seward and Remy Mansour, Petaluma, California; and freshmen Emily Riley, Norton, Kansas; and Camden Wilke, Columbus.


Nathan Lashley of Curtis is a third-year student serving as assistant coach.


The team’s next contest is October 20 at the Colorado State University Classic in Fort Collins.

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