The Kansas State University livestock judging team won national champion honors at the 2024 North American International Livestock Exposition Judging Contest in Louisville, Kentucky. The team was recognized Nov. 19 following the competition the previous day.
Winning the bronze bull wraps up a historic year with K-State teams winning national honors in meat animal evaluation in April and meat judging in early November. An above courtesy photo shows the team.
“Congratulations to the livestock judging team on being named national champions,” said Mike Day, K-State ASI department head. “This championship caps off a tremendous year for our students who participate in livestock and meat judging. Starting in April, the K-State team, which includes students that participate in livestock and/or meat judging, were champions of the all-encompassing and capstone Meat Animal Evaluation Contest.
“Earlier this month, the K-State meat judging team was crowned as national champion. The excellence displayed by the livestock team this week rounds out this trifecta. The ongoing commitment of the ASI department to applied learning opportunities for our students is emphasized by our recent successes in the judging area.”
The livestock team victory marks the 16th national championship for K-State’s livestock judging program. With a dominant performance in 2024, K-State won swine, sheep and goats and reasons and was second in cattle. All five members of the marking team placed in the top 15 with Jacob Klaudt, Beulah, North Dakota, winning high individual overall.
Earning Livestock Academic All-Americans were Quinna Molden, Middletown, Virginia; Kylie Schakel, Atlanta, Indiana; and Bailey Lavender, Branford, Florida. Earning Meat Judging Academic All-Americans in 2024 were Reece Geer, First Team; Hailey Wurtz, Second Team; and Hayden Lott, Second Team.
The livestock team is coached by Payton Dahmer and graduate students Brody Nemecek and Jentry Squires. The meat judging team is coached by Travis O’Quinn and graduate student Steph Witberler. The meat animal evaluation team is coached by Dahmer, O’Quinn and Chris Mullinix.
