The Purdue University Livestock Judging Team, coached by Hattie McGrady and Clay Kretzmeier, earned Reserve Overall Team honors while hosting the 2025 All East Livestock Judging Contest, which returned to West Lafayette for the first time since 2016.
Over three days, 14 collegiate institutions evaluated 120 head of cattle, sheep, goats and swine across multiple divisions. Despite the challenge of balancing competition with hosting responsibilities, the Purdue Livestock Judging Team secured many honors:
- Reserve Overall Team
- High Overall Team Cattle
- High Team Reasons
- High Team Cattle Judging
- High Team Sheep Selection
- 2nd High Team Cattle Selection
- 2nd Overall Team Selection
- 3rd High Team Swine
- 3rd High Team Sheep
- 3rd High Team Judging
- 3rd Overall Team Sheep Evaluation
“This contest really identifies good stockmen and stockwomen, not just good judges,” said McGrady. “It tests real-world skills like market evaluation and breeding selection, and I’m proud of how our students rose to the challenge even while helping host the event.”
Ray Duncan, a junior in agricultural economics, led the way individually, capturing High Individual Overall, High Individual Cattle and High Individual Cattle Selection. He also placed second in Sheep and Selection, fourth in Reasons, fifth in Cattle Judging, sixth in Sheep Evaluation and seventh Overall Judging.
“I was kind of taken back and happy when I found out,” Duncan said. “A lot of work goes into getting to that point, so I was just grateful, more than anything.”
Duncan emphasized the importance of preparation.
“We practice a lot when we don't have contests, and I also go to shows and do livestock stuff at home,” Duncan said. “I think that extra work made a difference.”
Freshman agribusiness major Caleb Lechlitner, who finished 10th Overall Individual, earned High Individual Reasons and High Individual Cattle Judging honors. He also placed third in Cattle, fifth in Judging, seventh in Evaluation and ninth in Cattle Evaluation.
"I've been judging since fourth grade," Lechlitner said. "It's been a passion for me, and one of my lifelong goals is to judge major shows one day. Being on the Purdue Livestock Judging Team is just a step in the process."
Other Individual Results:
Cara Greiner
- High Individual Swine Selection
- 2nd Reasons
- 3rd Selection
- 3rd Swine
- 3rd Cattle
- 7th Swine Judging
Mallory Bowers
- 4th Sheep Selection
- 6th Reasons
Molly Hadenfelt
- 5th Sheep Evaluation
- 9th Evaluation
Jayden Simpson
- 7th Swine Evaluation
Gabby Hull
- 5th Cattle Evaluation
Adrie Frieden
- 8th Cattle Evaluation
Lechlitner highlighted how livestock judging has improved his communication skills.
"If you don't have good communication, it’s hard for people to understand you,” Lechlitner said. “Judging has helped me a lot with being able to explain my ideas clearly.”
The All East Contest presents unique challenges. Students not only judge livestock in traditional contest classes but also participate in live market animal evaluation and breeding selection exercises, which require data evaluation and quick decision-making.
“Livestock judging teaches mental toughness and mental awareness,” Duncan said. “You get 15 minutes to make decisions that can affect your whole contest. It’s about making quick, confident choices, and that’s a skill you take with you throughout your life.”
Adding to the pressure, Purdue’s team members had to juggle competition with the behind-the-scenes work of hosting, limiting their final coaching sessions. Despite that, McGrady said the team handled the situation well.
"We tried our best to facilitate team bonding even though everyone was staying at home instead of together in hotels," she said. "We hosted a dodgeball tournament to bring students from all universities together. That kind of camaraderie mattered just as much as the contest itself."
Duncan shared advice for students interested in being a Purdue Livestock Judging Team member in the future.
“It all goes by fast. Stop and soak it in every once in a while,” Duncan said. “Before you know it, it'll be over.”
Lechlitner also shared some advice.
“Jump in and give it 110% effort all of the time,” Lechlitner said. “You can only get out of it what you put into it.”
2025 team members
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Mallory Bowers - Lafayette, IN – Agribusiness
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Ray Duncan – Wingate, IN – Agribusiness
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Adrie Frieden – Wheatfield, IN – Agricultural Education
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Cara Greiner – Connersville, IN - Animal Sciences
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Molly Hadenfelt – Chesterton, IN - Pharmacy
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Gabby Hull – LaPorte, IN – Speech, Language, and Hearing Science
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Caleb Lechlitner – Nappanee, IN - Agribusiness
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Kaitlyn Sarringhaus – Oldenburg, IN – Elementary Education
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Jayden Simpson – Roachdale, IN – Agricultural Economics
The team will take a short break this summer while hosting reasons clinics and a judging contest at the Indiana State Fair, before kicking off their 2025 fall season at the National Barrow Show in September.
Ultimately, livestock judging isn’t just about contest results. It’s about becoming better stock people, better communicators and better leaders for the future of the livestock industry.
- Hattie McGrady
