After countless hours of practice, several compelling competitions and an immense amount of dedication put forth, the UTM Livestock Judging Team concluded a successful season with a 12th place finish at the 100th National Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest in Louisville, Ky. this past November.

The seven-member UTM Livestock Judging Team endured a long and serious road this year on their way to a 12th place national finish, however. This road consisted primarily of a lot of practice.

“We are far from a club,” said UTM Livestock Judging Coach Kyle Rozeboom. “The Livestock Judging Team works as hard as most athletic teams.”

Rozeboom continued by saying that he has high expectations for team members, which include its members putting in an average of 30 hours of practice a week.

“I expect UTM to be competing with the nation’s best, and it takes devotion and motivation by the team members to do this.” The UTM Livestock Judging Team competed in a variety of competitions throughout the year.

“These students have traveled more than 25,000 miles and been in 23 states learning about the livestock industry as they prepared to compete in these contests,” said Rozeboom.

Their journey for success began in Arizona in January 2005 at the Arizona National Livestock Show. Since then each of the team members has worked very diligently to ensure their team’s success, and they have continually pushed one another in these competitions.

In the course of the year, the team has strived for honors in seven competitions as well as numerous smaller competitions, which include the Houston Stock Show, the San Antonio Stock Show and the American Royal in Kansas City. Some of the main highlights of the season include obtaining the title as reserve champions at both the All-Eastern Livestock Evaluation Contest in Martin and Keystone International in Harrisburg, Pa. and, of course, obtaining a 12th place finish in the 100th National Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest in Louisville, Ky. this past November.

“The team has had a successful year and everyone is a better person for being a part of it,” said Karl Huebner, a senior team member. “All seven of us will leave this team taking away a greater understanding of livestock and the way the industry functions across the nation.”