CC Judgers Take Reserve Champion at First Contest

By: Lisa S. Icenogle
Members of the Casper College Livestock Judging Team after returning from the National Barrow Show Livestock Judging Contest

Members of the Casper College Livestock Judging Reserve Champion Team at the 71st Annual National Barrow Show Livestock Judging Contest. Pictured back row, l-r: John Eilertson, Wentworth, South Dakota; Cole McKenney, Big Timber, Montana; Alec Thornton, Eagle Point, Oregon; Ross Slagowski, Farson, Wyoming; Russell Murdock, Driggs, Idaho; Blake Turrentine, Eaton, Colorado; and Eli Nielsen, Medaryville, Indiana. Front row, l-r: Justin Terry, Grants Pass, Oregon; Kaytlin Hokanson, Kaycee, Wyoming; Shanan Davey, Olathe, Colorado; Alexis Andrews, Ellensburg, Washington; Alexi Goodnow, Craig, Colorado; and Logan Despain, Laramie, Wyoming. Casper College photo by Justin Pehrson.

The Casper College Livestock Judging team earned Reserve Champion at the 71st Annual National Barrow Show Livestock Judging Contest in Austin, Minnesota.

The team scored a total of 3,206 points, just nine points behind champion Butler Community College from El Dorado, Kansas. The team placed fourth overall in reasons out of the 16 teams competing in the contest. Individually, sophomore John Eilertson, Wentworth, South Dakota, placed fourth high individual overall, and sophomore Shanan Davey, Olathe, Colorado, placed seventh high individual overall.

Head coach Jeremy Burkett noted that before the contest, the team stopped by several pig operations “to judge different classes to help prepare for the National Barrow Show contest.”

“I was very pleased with the team’s performance this past week. It is exciting to have a group of kids who are willing to work to accomplish their goals. With so much talent and work ethic, I look forward to traveling this year with them,” said Burkett.

“The National Barrow Show judging contest is one of the elite breeding swine shows in the country and holds a rich tradition in the swine industry. To be named as the Reserve Champion team is a great honor and accomplishment for these young people.” Burkett said.

The Casper College Livestock Judging team has a rich history and winning tradition since 1978. The championship livestock judging team competes across the country and ranks among the nation’s top junior college judging programs. With nine academic All-Americans since 2005, including five All-Americans since 2014. Under coach Jeremy Burkett, Ph.D., Casper College has had four National contest wins including Fort Worth Stock Show, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and the Arizona National Livestock Show since 2009.  After Casper College, students are continually recruited to transfer to agricultural universities across the nation.

Media contact: Lisa S. Icenogle
Subscribe

If you enjoyed this story, receive more just like it: