Purdue Livestock Judging places second high team overall at All-East

The Purdue University Livestock Judging Team recently returned with numerous accolades from the All-East Livestock Contest in Champaign, Illinois, including second high team overall honors.

The All-East Livestock Contest is a three-day comprehensive livestock evaluation contest where students estimate carcass measurements and values, answer 90 questions on 48 breeding animals and compete in a standard 12-class, eight-set judging contest. Throughout the competition, team members evaluated 120 animals across multiple species and categories. Several Purdue students also earned individual honors during the contest.

The Purdue team is coached by Hattie McGrady and Clay Kretzmeier. 

Overall Team Results

The team earned second high team overall honors and placed third overall in cattle and second overall in swine. The team also placed second overall in sheep and goats and garnered the dodgeball tournament championship. 

Market Animal Evaluation Team Results

In market animal evaluation, the team finished second high team overall. The team also placed second in market cattle evaluation, third in market swine evaluation and second in market sheep evaluation.

Breeding Animal Selection Team Results

The team earned second high team honors in breeding animal selection. The team placed third in breeding cattle selection, first in breeding swine selection and fourth in breeding sheep selection.

Livestock Judging Team Results

In livestock judging, the team placed fourth overall, including fifth in cattle judging, first in swine judging, fourth in sheep and goat judging and fourth in reasons. 

Individual Results

Matthew Strange, a junior in animal sciences from Marion, Indiana, placed sixth overall contest individual, sixth overall cattle, seventh overall swine, ninth overall sheep and goat, 10th overall market animal evaluation, sixth overall breeding animal selection, seventh overall livestock judging and sixth in swine judging.

Strange said the judging team experience is helping him grow both personally and professionally throughout his time at Purdue.

“Being on the judging team has opened many doors for connections that I did not know I could have,” Strange said. “This also allows me to be confident and well spoken in my classes and within the organizations I am a part of, giving me the confidence to be a leader for these groups.”

Kelsie Avery, a sophomore in animal sciences from Kokomo, Indiana, earned eighth overall contest individual, fourth overall cattle, ninth overall swine, fourth overall market animal evaluation, seventh in market cattle evaluation, sixth in market sheep evaluation, 10th overall breeding animal selection, 10th in breeding cattle selection and seventh in breeding swine selection.

Avery reflected on the passion and dedication that drives her and other students involved in livestock judging.

“I think the biggest unknown for most people about livestock judging is our ‘why,’” Avery said. “To us, this is our passion. Regardless of what you do in the livestock and/or agriculture industry, it shapes you into the person you become.”

Landon Sanders, a student in chemical engineering from Cedar Park, Texas, placed ninth overall contest individual, high individual overall swine, third overall market animal evaluation, ninth in market swine evaluation, seventh in market sheep evaluation, eighth in breeding swine selection, fifth in swine judging, fourth in sheep and goat judging and 10th in reasons.

Sanders said the format of the All-East contest made it a unique and rewarding experience.

“The competitive nature of a contest that takes a holistic approach to livestock production really is unique and was my favorite part of the contest,” Sanders said. “Due to the multiple facets of the contest, it was longer, and in order to be competitive, I had to stay locked-in through three days instead of just one, which was a mental challenge, but also made it very memorable and rewarding.”

Ellie Gosser, a sophomore in animal sciences from Flat Rock, Indiana, placed eighth overall swine, third in breeding swine selection and second in swine judging.

Gosser said the contest allowed the team to showcase what they learned throughout the year while evaluating livestock in a variety of ways.

“The All-East experience was a chance to showcase different skills that our team has and how much we’ve learned this year,” Gosser said. “Because of the nature of this contest, we get to see so many more animals, evaluate them in different ways with a different mindset, and see how different animals are important to the industry.”

Additional Purdue students also earned individual honors throughout the contest, including:

• Grace Kreischer - fourth overall sheep and goat, high individual breeding sheep selection and fourth overall breeding animal selection
• Kinsey Rohls - 10th in market cattle evaluation and eighth in market sheep evaluation
• Zach Lang - third in market cattle evaluation
• Michael Baden - eighth in market cattle evaluation