University of Arkansas Livestock Judging team are reserve champions of Dixie National

The eight-member University of Arkansas Livestock Judging team won overall reserve championship team honors at the Dixie National Livestock Show, the largest pro rodeo east of the Mississippi.

In the Dixie National Intercollegiate Livestock Judging Contest, contestants from across the nation judged 12 classes of cattle and gave eight sets of oral reasons to defend their placings. Arkansas faced 14 other college teams, with Oklahoma State earning overall champion honors and Texas A&M placing third.

Bryan Kutz, instructor of animal science with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the students’ high performances gelled in a short time. He started coaching the team in December and they earned their reserve championship not long after.

“I am extremely proud of the team,” Kutz said. “It’s nice when all the team members come together and place consistently with each other. They all contributed and realized their potential. I hope this will help boost confidence going forward to future competitions.”

Besides being named the reserve champion team overall, Arkansas was first place in the Continental division, second in the Steers and English cattle division, third in reasons and fourth in the Brahman division.

Michael McFarland of Locust Grove, Oklahoma, led the team, winning ninth high individual overall. McFarland was also second in Continental and fourth in English. Bailey Corwine of Pomona, Kansas, was fifth in Steers and eighth in Continental. Zane Blubaugh of Tonkawa, Oklahoma, was 10th overall and ninth in Brahman. Ted Chambers of LaCygne, Kansas, was seventh in English. Jordan Volkman of Bourbon, Missouri, was fifth in Continental and Lacy Barrett of Gravette, Arkansas, was eight in the Steers class.

The team roster consists of Blubaugh, Barrett, McFarland, Corwine, Volkman, Chambers, Paul Shanks of Belle, Missouri; and Baxter Harrod of Hermitage, Arkansas.

“Competing on the livestock judging team builds life skills like effective communication, confidence, decision making skills and self-motivation that are extremely important with regards to career opportunities upon graduation,” Kutz said.

To learn more about livestock judging, contact Kutz at [email protected], or contact your county extension agent to learn more about 4-H Youth livestock activities.