Skip to Main Content

Purdue Animal Sciences selects Hattie Duncan as Livestock Judging Coordinator

After a year-long search, Purdue Animal Sciences has selected Hattie Duncan to lead its Livestock Judging Team as well as the department’s newly formed Livestock Judging Program. Duncan is a Wingate, Indiana native who was raised on a Hereford cattle farm. 

After earning her master’s degree in animal sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Duncan lectured on beef production, animal ethics and introductory animal sciences courses at the university. She comes to Purdue with extensive experience in livestock judging from both sides of the arena, having assisted in the organization of several judging events for Illinois State 4-H.  

John Blanton, professor and department head of animal sciences, said Duncan’s talent and motivation for livestock judging will enable the newly formed Judging Program within the department to flourish. The program will include introductory judging experiences for first-year students so they can determine if joining Purdue’s teams would be the right fit for them. 

“Coming in as freshman, students will get their first experiences with judging in our classes with live animal evaluation and learn to write out their reasoning and arguments,” Blanton said. “Having Hattie as our Livestock Judging Coordinator will also allow for better recruiting and hiring of judges, putting Purdue on the path to win a national championship.” 

hattieduncanstorybody.jpgDuncan said her decision to return to Indiana is one that she will utilize in her recruiting processes. 

“I was a student who was passionate about agriculture and specifically livestock, and I left the state,” she said. “I think there are a lot of people who found themselves in the same boat as me. So, I think it’s really important we work to keep our in-state students here by providing opportunities for them opportunities to become the future leaders of Indiana agriculture.”  

One of the major perks Duncan hopes to replicate for Purdue students is the networking opportunities that come from being involved with judging teams. 

“It is common during off weekends for competitors to take a group trip to a livestock operation to judge their animals as practice. These excursions allow for students to meet so many important people to help in advancing their careers,” Duncan said. 

Featured Stories

Leo Koenigsfeld
Leo Koenigsfeld - Graduate Ag Research Spotlight

Leo Koenigsfeld grew up in a small town in central Missouri with the unlikely name of...

Read More
Bill and CD Young at a table in front of greenery in the Spirit and Elephant restaurant.
Purdue hosts new plant-based product development competition

A generous gift from the Young Family will drive food innovation at Purdue University over the...

Read More
Austin Grant with colleagues during his summer internship with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
FNR Field Report: Austin Grant

Austin Grant, a senior majoring in aquatic sciences with a minor in military science and...

Read More
Kingsly Ambrose in front of the solar system model in Discovery Park on campus.
ABE professor recognized for advancing ag safety and health

Kingsly Ambrose, a professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, was...

Read More
Rice inspects insects in the lab
When passions connect: insect biology meets history

Her love for insects started early. “From the moment I could walk, I was outside looking at...

Read More
Student wearing a white T-shirt works on a laptop covered in Purdue stickers while sitting at a table with a notebook open. The background shows other students studying in a large, well-lit space.
2025–26 Animal Sciences scholarship recipients announced

Purdue Animal Sciences awarded $72,200 in scholarships to students for the 2025–26 school...

Read More
To Top