LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The All-American Livestock Judging Awards were presented at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, KY on Nov. 17. Marking its 16th year, the program was initiated by the University Livestock Judging Team Coaches’ Association in 2000. The All American program recognizes students who make a personal commitment to livestock judging and excel in academics, university and industry activities and community service. This year’s eleven honorees represent eight universities and the average GPA of the recipients is 3.83.
The recipients are from Iowa State University, University of Arkansas, University of Missouri, Oklahoma State University, University of Illinois, Clemson University, Colorado State University and West Texas A & M University.
Below is the individual listing of the All-American Team:
Bailey Core is from Iowa State University. Her university involvement includes Creator of the Department of Animal Science Newsletter, Co-chair of the ISU Agricultural Communications Club and member of Block and Bridle club and National Agri-Marketing Association. She has served as President of the National Junior Maine Anjou Association and the Iowa Junior Beef Breeds Council. Bailey was high individual overall at the NACTA contest last spring and was also a member of the ISU Meat Animal Evaluation team. She plans to continue her education with a Masters in Agricultural Communication and eventually pursue a marketing/communications position in the livestock industry.
Elizabeth Heaton is also from Iowa State University. Elizabeth has served as Advisor and is a member of the American Angus, Chianina, Charolais, Shorthorn and Simmental Associations. At Iowa State, she has been a member of Block and Bridle and Agricultural Business clubs. She was a member of Illinois State 4-H Livestock Judging Team and was second high individual overall at the National 4-H contest. This past summer she served on an internship with River Valley Coop in Illinois analyzing field weed, insect and disease pressures. She plans to attend Drake University Law School and eventually engage in domestic and international agricultural policy.
Morgan Marley is from the University of Arkansas. She is Vice President of the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, Reporter of Block and Bridle and Director of Public Relations for Collegiate Farm Bureau. Morgan is also an Experiential Learning Lab Graphic Designer and Videographer for the Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology Department. She was a Human Resources Intern with the Lansing Trade Group in Overland Park, KS this past summer where she coordinated a recruitment video, developed a campus ambassador program and designed a new employee newsletter. She was a member of the Champion Team at the Dixie National and Reserve Champion Team at the Arizona National. Morgan was also named a Junior College All American for livestock judging at NEO. After graduating with an agricultural communications degree and a minor in Animal Science, Morgan plans to attend graduate school in agricultural communications and pursue a career in communications within the livestock industry.
Miriam Martin is from the University of Missouri. Miriam has held chairman positions with the University of Missouri Block and Bridle Steer, Heifer and Swine shows. She is a Litton Leaders Scholar and was selected Outstanding Freshman in the College in 2014. She is also a youth ambassador for the Missouri Farm Bureau and Missouri Pork Association. She works in the MU Meat Science laboratory and conducted an undergraduate research project in meat science funded by Elanco and Pork Checkoff. She held a Merck Animal Health Swine Marketing Internship this past summer and a JBS/Pilgrim’s Pride Marketing and Product Management Internship in the summer of 2014. She has participated on both the meats and livestock judging teams at MU. Miriam plans to attend graduate school in Agribusiness emphasizing International Agriculture with ultimate career objective of connecting the people we feed with the science that makes it possible.
Elizabeth Nixon is from Oklahoma State. She was a member of the National Champion Meat Animal Evaluation team this past year and was sixth high individual overall in the contest. She is a member of the Block and Bridle club and Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow at OSU. She has participated in internships with Alliance Group Public Relations, Zoetis Genetics Sales and the Virginia Beef Industry Council. She has been active in both the Virginia and National Junior Angus Associations. She attended Butler Community college where she was an Agriculture Ambassador, Order of the Purple and Phi Theta Kappa. She was also a Junior College All American at Butler and a 4-H All American at the North American International contest. Elizabeth plans to pursue a communications career specifically as an advocate for the livestock industry in an organization like the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
Shelby Peterson is from the University of Illinois. She has served as an Ambassador for College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences and was selected for the 2015 International Business Immersion Program to Greece, Belgium and the Netherlands. She is a member of Agribusiness Club and the Hoof and Horn Club where she serves as Showdown Chair for the Spring Steer and Heifer shows. She was raised on a 400-head family-owned cow-calf operation in Western Illinois and is a lifetime member of the American Angus Association. She was an intern for the career fair under the Director of Career Services for the College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. She is pursuing a degree in Agricultural Finance with a minor in Animal Science and following graduation would like to work for Farm Credit Association in the credit and lending division. She has taken the first step toward her goal by serving as an intern with Farm Credit Illinois this past summer.
Jessica Plunkard is from Clemson University. Jessica is a Student Ambassador for the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, President of the Clemson University Academic Team, Vice President of Circle K, Treasurer of the PreVet Club and a member of the Clemson University Calhoun Honors College. She served on internships with veterinary clinics in Asheville, NC and Dickerson, MD during the past two summers. She also participated in an international veterinary program to Guatemala in 2015. Jessica finished in the top ten overall in the All East Judging contest as a member of the Reserve Champion team. She plans to pursue a joint DVM/PhD program in Veterinary medicine to become a food animal focused researcher.
Kyndal Reitzenstein is from Oklahoma State University. She is active in the Block and Bridle and Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow at OSU. She is also a member of the American Junior Angus, Simmental, Charolais, Maine Anjou and Chianina breed associations. Kyndal has held internships with Yearous Cattle Company, Showtimes magazine, and Frontier Genetics. She was a Junior College All American for Redlands College placing High Individual Overall at the 2013 North American Contest. Kyndal has continued her judging success finishing among the high individuals overall at the National Western, Arizona National, Iowa Beef Expo, Houston Livestock Show and most recently at the American Royal. Kyndal plans to continue her involvement in the beef cattle industry following graduation in either ruminant nutrition or marketing.
Emma Vickland is from Colorado State University. Emma is Public Relations Officer for the Block and Bridle club, and a member of Tau Sigma, Phi Theta Kappa and Sigma Alpha Lambda honor societies. She was very active in the American Junior Chianina Association as a National director and served as Vice President of the Colorado Junior Hereford Association. She is also a member of the National Junior Angus, Charolais, Hereford, Maine Anjou and Simmental Associations. Emma was High Individual Overall at the National Western and finished in the top 10 overall at the Iowa Beef Expo, San Antonio and Houston judging contests. She received All American honors in livestock judging in Junior College with Redlands College and was also a member of a National Champion 4-H team in 2012. Emma plans to receive a doctorate in Physical Therapy specializing in treatment of neuromuscular dysfunction in large animals.
Matthew Walta is from Oklahoma State University. Matthew has been on the President’s Honor Roll every semester at both Redlands College and OSU. He is a member of Block and Bridle, American Angus Association, Oklahoma Wheat Commission, and Mid-States Wool Growers Association. Matthew received the American Farmer Degree for his diversified operation consisting of cattle, sheep and wheat. He was a member of the National Champion Meat Animal Evaluation team at Oklahoma State, won high individual at the Arizona National Contest, and placed in the top ten at National Western and Dixie National contests. He plans to return to his family’s operation to continue raising cattle and sheep but also branch out into goat and hog production.
Bailee Wright is from West Texas A&M University. Bailee serves as Vice President of the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, Recruitment Chairman of Agricultural Ambassadors, Facilitator of Leadership Workshops with the National Society of Leadership/Success and a Representative on the West Texas A&M President’s Council. She worked as a Marketing Associate with The Cattle Range in Amarillo, TX, a show office intern with Rodeo Austin and a summer intern with Texas Pork Producers in Austin, TX where she coordinated the Texas Pork Leadership Camp and Texas Pork Youth Symposium. She was high individual overall at the Texas State FFA Contest and received gold emblem honors for the livestock evaluation CDE at the National FFA contest. After receiving a degree in Agricultural Media and Communications, she plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Leadership and Ethics. Her short term goal is to work as a Media and Communications Representative for a state or national livestock organization and her long term goal is to work for a major livestock show as a Youth and Competitive Events Director.
The All American Team judges are current or former administrators from across the country and include Dr. Mark McCann, University of Georgia; Dr. Jim Heird, Texas A&M University, Dr. Kevin Pond, Colorado State University; Dr. James Kinder, The Ohio State University and Dr. Maynard Hogberg, Iowa State University.
For more information, visit https://www.livestockexpo.org.
—North American International Livestock Exposition
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