UW livestock judging team sets bar high for fall season
A top-10 finish at six livestock judging contests this spring boasts for a hopeful fall season for the University of Wyoming (UW) livestock judging team.
“I have geared the team exclusively for the national contest in November, and they have responded well to this commitment and idea,” said Coach Curtis Doubet. “I did not necessarily prepare for each of the spring contests, but instead used pieces of each spring contest for what they had to offer us in relation to what the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) will be like this fall.”
Team members include Kemsley Gallegos of Laramie, Justin Doubet of Parker, Colo., Cooper Carlson of Atwood, Colo., Holly Heckendorf of Wellington, Colo., McKenna Carnahan of Julesburg, Colo., Jacey Taylor of Montrose, Colo., Macy Collins of Meeker, Colo., Kenzie Morris of Yuma, Colo., Zachary Davis of Sebastopol, Calif., Jared Roach of Mapleton, Utah and Grace Gullatt of Salem, Ala. Shanan Davey from Olathe, Colo. is the assistant coach.
The spring season kicked off in January at the Cattleman’s Congress in Oklahoma City. The team was sixth high overall, sixth high reasons, sixth high cattle, sixth high hogs and sixth high sheep and goats. Heckendorf placed sixth high in cattle and 20th overall. Carnahan was 17th overall.
At the Patriot Contest in Texas, the team placed fourth overall, fourth sheep and goats, fourth hogs, fifth reasons and fifth cattle. Carnahan was ninth in cattle and 16th overall.
The team also placed as the fifth high team at the Nebraska Cattleman’s Classic. Justin Doubet was 12th overall and 13th in reasons. Carnahan was eighth in reasons.
At the Iowa Beef Expo, the team was third high overall, second high team placings and fifth high team reasons. Collins was 12th overall, Carlson was ninth in placings and 16th overall, and Carnahan was 11th in reasons.
During the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo in February, the team placed fifth overall, fifth reasons, third goats, third sheep, fifth hogs and sixth cattle. Collins was fifth overall, third in cattle and 10th in reasons. Heckendorf was high individual in goats and ninth overall. Justin Doubet was ninth in reasons and 11th overall. Carnahan placed eighth in hogs.
The season concluded at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo placing sixth overall, third sheep and goats, fifth cattle, fifth reasons and tenth hogs. Justin Doubet was fifth high in sheep and goats and Heckendorf placed seventh high in cattle.
The team will go on to compete at contests in the fall leading up to the NAILE in Louisville, Ky., the largest all-breed, purebred livestock event in the world.
“In livestock judging, it is all about how you finish and not about how you start,” said Doubet. “I believe with all my heart this team will finish strong and has the potential, the ability, the drive and the desire to be national champions.”
This article was written by Katie Shockley and is courtesy of the University of Wyoming. For more information, visit uwagnews.com or e-mail Shockley at jshock@uwyo.edu.
