Livestock judgers have success in fall contests

The sophomores of the Casper College Livestock Judging team succeeded at the fall contests, while the freshman team was competitive in their fall run.

“The Sophomore livestock judging team had a very successful run this fall,” said Jeremy Burkett, livestock judging coach. During the fall semester, the team competed in several contests, including Aksarben, Grand Island, Nebraska; Mid-America Classic, Hutchinson, Kansas; Tulsa State Fair, Tulsa, Oklahoma; State Fair of Texas, Dallas; American Royal, Kansas City, Missouri; and North American International Livestock Exposition, Louisville, Kentucky. In the course of competing, the team visited 11 different states.

The team’s wins include third high sophomore team and fifth high team in reasons at Aksarben. Third high sophomore team, third high team hogs and reasons, and second high team sheep were won at the Mid-American Classic.

The sophomore’s first national contest was held in Kansas City, where they were seventh team overall. At that competition, the team scored sixth overall, second in performance beef cattle, and fourth in cattle.

Individually, Jessy Barger, Cascade, Montana; Kaley Pieper, Fowler, Colorado; Jacob Klaudt, Beulah, North Dakota; Kadyn Braaten, Townsend, Montana; Wade Leachman, Toston, Montana; and Braden West, Sheridan, all placed in the top 10 in several contests for different species. Braaten, Pieper, and Klaudt each placed in the top 10 overall in at least one contest. And in reasons, Pieper and Klaudt were each in the top 10. “A big highlight to round off the year, Jacob also won reasons in Louisville at the NAILE,” noted Burkett.

Burkett said several freshmen and sophomores competed in the Mid-American Classic. “We had a very successful trip with five out of the 10 high individual sophomores being from Casper and three freshmen in the top 10 individuals. Both freshman and sophomore teams won their contest and had many top 10 individuals in each species,” Burkett said.

The freshmen team was also competitive on their fall run. At Aksarben, the freshmen were fifth overall high team, fourth team in reasons and sheep, and fifth team in cattle. Individually, Gavin Masters, Pinedale, and Robert Choma, Etna, placed third and fourth in the sheep and goat division.

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