WT Meat Judging Team Scores First Championship at Pennsylvania Contest

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

WT Meat Judging Team Scores First Championship at Pennsylvania Contest

CANYON, Texas — West Texas A&M University’s meat judging team is off to a rousing start for the 2025-2026 season, winning its first championship of the year.

The team took top honors Sept. 20 at the Eastern National Meat Judging Contest at Wyalusing, Pennsylvania, beating out teams from Texas A&M University, Oklahoma State University, Tarleton State University, the University of Florida and others.

“This marks WT’s first victory at this contest,” said Dr. Loni Lucherk, Gordon W. Davis Endowed Chair in Meat Judging. “Our team has dedicated countless hours to improving, and we are eager to carry this momentum into our final three competitions this fall.”

The team took first-place honors in beef grading, pork judging and reasons; second in lamb judging; fourth in specifications; and fifth in beef judging and placings.

In individual rankings, Kale Benton, a senior animal science major from Buffalo, Wyoming, won second place overall, first in specifications and total beef, second in beef grading and fifth in beef judging.

Jozie Petit, a senior agricultural media and communication major from Seymour, won seventh overall, first in lamb judging and third in placings.

Ryan Stricker, a senior animal science major from Magnolia, won eighth overall and third in pork judging.

Kaslyn Moczygemba, a senior agricultural media and communication major from Hobson, won 15th overall, and first in beef grading, reasons and pork judging.

Morgan Thorn, a senior animal science major from Clovis, New Mexico, won first overall in the alternate division.

The team also includes Sterling Berry, a sophomore animal science major from Cotton Center; Cooper Coffelt, a junior animal science major from Whitney; Lyndsey Pancost, a sophomore agricultural education major from Milliken, Colorado; Ellie Swain, a sophomore animal science major from Robinson; and Spencer Walahoski, a sophomore animal science major from Overton, Nebraska.

In addition to Lucherk, coaches are Megan Eckhardt, a New Braunfels native pursuing a Ph.D. in agriculture, and Shelton Luedke, a graduate student in animal science from Hondo.

The team next will compete Oct. 19 at the American Royal in Omaha. Other fall competitions will be Nov. 2 at the High Plains Contest at Cargill in Friona, and Nov. 16 at the International Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest in Dakota City, Nebraska.

In 2024-2025, the team won four championships.

WT’s meat judging team is one of the ways the University is responsive to regional needs, as set out in the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign has raised more than $175 million and will continue through 2025.

About West Texas A&M University

A Regional Research University, West Texas A&M University is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. A Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, WT boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The University also is home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Photo: The West Texas A&M University Meat Judging Team took home its first championship of the year Sept. 20 at the Eastern National Meat Judging Contest in Pennsylvania. Team members include, front from left, Ellie Swain, Morgan Thorn, Kaslyn Moczygemba, Jozie Petit and Lyndsey Pancost, and, back from left, Coach Dr. Loni Lucherk, Cooper Coffelt, Kale Benton, Ryan Stricker, Spencer Walahoski, Coach Shelton Luedke and Coach Megan Eckhardt.

—WT—