Department of Agriculture Judging Teams
The Meat Animal Evaluation Team is for livestock and meat judging students interested in improving their understanding of livestock composition relative to the value of the live animal and the carcass. The National Meat Animal Evaluation contest is regarded as the pinnacle of a meat animal evaluators judging career and is the most practical test of meat and livestock evaluation. The national contest is comprised of four different categories: Market animal evaluation, Breeding animal evaluation, Meat evaluation and Communications. The contest challenges students to understand the economic value of market livestock and carcasses, while also understanding EPD’s and the importance of breeding animals to the industry. The students portray knowledge learned about meat animal and carcass evaluation and current market issues during a team activity in the communications division. WT students on the meat animal evaluation team would train to compete in a vigorous multi-day contest held each spring to vie for the National Championship in Meat Animal Evaluation.
For further information, contact Dr. Loni Lucherk at llucherk@wtamu.edu or (806) 651-3581; or Michael Semler at msemler@wtamu.edu or (806) 651-2698.
Crops judging is a competitive event in which students can experience hands-on learning in the agricultural production industry. Participants in this contest develop skills and gain knowledge that are applied to careers in agronomic production, livestock production, soil science, soil and natural resource conservation, agribusiness and much more. This contest is open to any undergraduate major, with contests and practices held each spring semester for currently enrolled students. Students can earn course credit for this team, their junior and senior years.
Contests are composed of four sections: Plant and Seed Identification, where students will need to identify both crop and pest plants at any growth stage; Lab Practical, which may consist of reading crucial product label information, plant insect, equipment, or disease identification, agronomic calculations and more; Agronomic Quiz, in which students will take a 75 question exam containing questions from every aspect of agronomy; and Math Practical, where students will solve mathematical problems related to agronomy. The contest as a whole is heavily inspired by the International Certified Crop Advisor (ICCA) Performance Objectives and is an incredible tool for students pursuing a career in crop production or the support thereof.
For further information, contact Dr. Brock Blaser at bblaser@wtamu.edu or (806) 651-2555.
The Horse Judging Team is a competitive event for students interested in the equine industry. Students wishing to compete on the horse judging team can be from any undergraduate major and are usually juniors or seniors. Students evaluate a variety of horse breeds and disciplines at some of the nation’s premier equine facilities, providing them with the opportunity to see a vast array of the equine industry and the chance to meet industry leaders along the way. This experience prepares them for a career in a wide variety of fields within the equine sector. Participants gain critical skills in horse evaluation, oral reasons presentation, and industry knowledge, equipping them for successful futures.
In the fall, the team competes in the following contests: APHA Horse IQ Judging Contest in Fort Worth, TX; The All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio; National Reining Horse Association Judging Contest in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Arabian National in Tulsa, Oklahoma; National Cutting Horse Association in Fort Worth, Texas; AQHA World Show in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In the spring, the team competes at: National Horse Judging Team Coaches' Association Spring Sweepstakes (location varies); and the National Reined Cow Horse Judging Contest Fort Worth, Texas. Additionally, the team helps host and organize several judging contests across the state of Texas.
For further information, contact Dr. Christy Petry-Adams at cadams@wtamu.edu or (806) 651-2716
The Livestock Judging Team is a competitive event for students interested in the livestock industry. Students wishing to compete on the livestock judging team can be from any undergraduate major and are usually juniors or seniors.
Students evaluate cattle, sheep, goats, swine, and horses at some of the nation’s premier livestock operations; which provides the opportunity to see a vast array of the livestock industry and the chance to meet industry leaders along the way; all while preparing them for a career in a wide variety of fields.
Prospective team members enroll in the livestock evaluation course offered in the fall, which includes trips to many livestock facilities around the area for training. Over winter break, the team members will train and travel in preparation for their spring season, which begins at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado. Through the springs semester the team will compete at multiple national contest, including the Fort Worth Stock Show in Fort Worth, TX; the San Antonio Livestock Exposition in San Antonio, TX; and the Houston Livestock Show in Houston, TX. Prior to classes starting in the fall, the team takes a trip for more exposure to judging and to gear up for the fall run. During the fall semester the WTAMU livestock judging team competes at the Tulsa State Fair, in Tulsa, OK; the State Fair of Texas, in Dallas, TX; the Flint Hills Classic, in Hutchinson, KS; the American Royal, in Kansas City, Missouri, and finishes their season at the North American International Livestock Exposition, in Louisville, KY.
For further information, contact Michael Semler at msemler@wtamu.edu or (806) 651-2698
The Meat Judging Team is a competitive event for students interested in the meat or animal science industry. Students on the meat judging team can be from any undergraduate major and are usually sophomores and juniors. Students evaluate beef, pork and lamb carcasses and wholesale cuts at many of the nation’s largest meat processing facilities, providing them an in-depth look at the meat industry while preparing them for a future career in the industry. In the spring, the team competes at national meat judging contests including the National Western in Greeley, CO; the Southwestern Livestock Exposition in Fort Worth, TX; the South Plains Caviness Contest in Hereford, TX; and the Houston Livestock Show in Houston, TX. In the fall, the team competes in the Eastern National in Wyalusing, PA; American Royal in Omaha, NE; the Cargill High Plains in Friona, TX; and the International in Dakota City, NE. In 2023, WT won its first National Championship in Meat Judging.
For further information, contact Dr. Loni Lucherk at llucherk@wtamu.edu or (806) 651-3581.
Soil judging is a competitive activity through which students develop skills relevant to careers in soil science, soil conservation, agronomy, agricultural education and more. Soil judging is open to any undergraduate major, and students are eligible to compete every semester, while they are enrolled at WT. Practices are held twice a week and students can earn course credit by enrolling in the profile evaluation course (fall) or applied soil survey course (spring). WT travels nationally to participate in 1-2 contests each semester. Contests consist of both individual and team portions. During each portion of the contest, students describe a series of soil profiles and their associated landscape characteristics. Their characterizations are then scored relative to those generated by soil science professionals in the contest region.
For further information, contact Lauren Selph at lselph@wtamu.edu or (806) 651-3580.
The Agricultural Economics Quiz Bowl Team is a team comprised of Agricultural Business and Economics students who compete in a jeopardy-style competition answering questions about all areas of Agricultural Business and Economics. They travel twice a year to different competitions to compete and network professionally.
For further information, contact Dr. Bailey Samper at bsamper@wtamu.edu or (806) 651-0052.
The Meat Science Quiz Bowl team is for undergraduate students interested in expanding their knowledge of meat science to compete in the American Meat Science Association (AMSA) Meat Science Quiz Bowl competition. The quiz bowl is similar to Jeopardy and can cover any aspect of meat science. Questions have been asked from a wide range of resources that can include topics such as meat industry history, muscle structure and function, food safety regulations, microbiology, meat grading, fabrication and merchandising, meat marketing, processing, packaging, sensory attributes of meat, growth and development of meat animals, chemistry and color, by products, exotic meat animals, labeling and current events. The Meat Science Quiz Bowl competition is every June in conjunction with the AMSA Reciprocal Meat Conference (RMC). The students on the team will also have the chance to interact with industry and academic professionals while improving their knowledge of meat science in scientific sessions at RMC. The WT Meat Science Quiz Bowl team won their first National Championship in 2020.
For further information, contact Dr. Loni Lucherk at llucherk@wtamu.edu or (806) 651-3581.