BLINN LIVESTOCK JUDGING TEAM WINS TOP HONORS
The Blinn College livestock judging team recently earned top honors at the Tulsa and Texas state fairs.
Blinn won the sophomore title in the Tulsa State Fair Livestock Judging Contest Saturday, Oct. 7, in Tulsa, Okla., then took home second place in the freshman and sophomore divisions at the State Fair of Texas Livestock Judging Contest Monday, Oct. 9, in Dallas.
“Winning several divisions and staying competitive in everything is a challenge, but they did a good job staying consistent,” coach Brice Mund said.
Kylie Patterson led the sophomore division with a first-place individual finish after topping the cattle and reason categories.
“Being able to come in the room and justify your placing best is always the most rewarding part,” Patterson said. “Mentally, being able to endure eight hours of focus and intensity is what really separates you.”
Blinn’s freshman division placed third in the Tulsa State Fair Livestock Judging Contest as Seth Jordan led the team with an eighth-place individual finish.
In the State Fair of Texas Livestock Judging Contest, Allie Burns led the freshman team with a first-place finish, while Jordan followed in 10th. Burns placed third in the cattle and reason categories.
Kylie Patterson led the sophomore team with a third-place individual finish, while Jaci Burgin was fifth, Shyann Mattes was eighth, Graysen Gilbraith was ninth, and Trevor Leithner was 10th.
The Blinn livestock judging team will compete next at the American Royal Livestock Judging Contest on Friday, Oct. 27, in Kansas City.
Blinn has been named National Team of the Year four times in the last 10 years. Blinn’s Agricultural Sciences Program is one of the largest in the nation with almost 800 students enrolled – roughly four times the size of any other two-year agricultural program in the state. Blinn offers agriculture classes on all its campuses, with the W.J. “Bill” Rankin Agricultural Complex serving as the program’s hub. In addition to its excellence in the classroom, Blinn offers extracurricular educational activities in the areas of livestock judging, agriculture club, wildlife, agriculture mechanics, horticulture and agriculture sciences.
For more information on Blinn’s Ag Sciences program, visit: www.blinn.edu/agriculture. Story and photo courtesy of Blinn College.