The 2024 University of Minnesota Livestock Judging Team has been on the road and representing our college extremely well this fall. The team has been hard at work practicing and honing in their skills to be best prepared for the contest. The team has showcased their talents at two recent contests, where they placed as the high team overall each time. They first traveled to Tennessee and later to Pennsylvania.
On September 23, the team competed at the Prof Lidvall Memorial Livestock Judging Contest in Cookeville, Tennessee. This provided a great start to the fall season as the team placed as the 1st Overall Team and captured 1st in Oral Reasons! Other team results were 1st in sheep and goats, 2nd in swine and 2nd in cattle.
Leading the way for Minnesota was Owen Rozeboom who placed 3rd overall, 3rd in reasons, 1st in sheep and goats, and 4th in swine individually. Alisha Klemme was 7th overall, 5th in cattle and 9th in swine as an individual. Wyatt Gonsior, as an individual, was 9th overall, 9th in reasons, 7th in cattle and 8th in swine. Anna Ridenour placed 4th in reasons, 5th in swine, and 7th in sheep and goats individually. Nathan Skiba was 10th in reasons and 3rd in swine as an individual. Emma Marthaler individually was 6th in reasons and 1st in swine. Finally rounding out the team was Sadie Sullivan who placed 10th in cattle.
Two weeks later, the team traveled to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to compete at the Keystone International Livestock Judging Expo Contest. As part of this competition, team members judged 12 classes consisting of sheep, goats, cattle and swine gave oral reasons on eight of these. After a full day, the team swept the contest placing as the 1st Team Overall and 1st Team in reasons! Other team highlights include 1st team in cattle, 1st team in swine, and 1st team in sheep and goats.
The team was very consistent as individuals placing 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th overall. Individually the University of Minnesota was lead by Nathan Skiba who placed 2nd overall, 5th in reasons, 3rd in swine, 4th in sheep and goats, and 5th in cattle. He was followed by teammate Alisha Klemme who placed 3rd overall, 2nd in reasons, 1st in Angus, 2nd in cattle and 5th in swine. Next was Owen Rozeboom placing 4th overall, 4th in reasons, 2nd in swine and 6th in cattle. Following him was teammate Wyatt Gonsior placing 5th overall, 6th in reasons, 1st in cattle, and 4th in swine. Again following him was a teammate, Emma Marthaler who placed 6th overall, 7th in reasons, 2nd in sheep and goats, 9th in cattle, 10th in swine. Closing out the team was Anna Ridenour who placed 7th overall, 3rd in reasons, 6th in swine, and 7th in sheep and goats.
The Livestock Judging Team is coached by Kyle Rozeboom. The team would like to thank all those who helped put on phenomenal contests with high quality livestock and those who provided workouts along the way! On behalf of the Animal Science Department, congratulations on these great successes!