Columbus, OH– The Ohio State University Livestock Judging Team began the 2014 season at the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) in Denver, Colorado. On January 16-17, 2014, OSU participated in the livestock contest with 12 classes and eight sets of oral reasons, and the carload contest with six carloads of cattle and one set of 10 questions to answer. The NWSS is an annual show held in Denver, Colorado, featuring more than 15,000 head of livestock.
One of many firsts as a result of the trip was setting an OSU team record by finishing seventh overall out of 22 teams in the livestock contest. OSU began traveling to the NWSS, for the third largest judging contest in the nation in 2012. Not only did the 2014 team beat OSU’s previous best finish of ninth, but also, seventh overall is the highest ranking at a contest with over 20 teams competing in a decade. The team finished in the top ten teams for all divisions at a major contest for the first time under the direction of coach Kyle Culp; fifth in sheep/goats and swine, tied for seventh in oral reasons and tenth in cattle.
Levi Criswell, Marion, Ohio, paced the team finishing 11th overall, just one point shy of the top ten. Criswell tied for tenth in oral reasons, and was awarded a luggage bag and fleece for leading all scorers in sheep/goats to become Culp’s first student to win a species at a major contest. Tonya Fender, Lynchburg, Ohio, finished fourth in swine, while Zach Bartenslager, Lewisburg, West Virginia, tallied an overall ranking of 16th. Courtney Tarvin, Mt. Olivet, Kentucky, and Jacob Ruffing, Republic, Ohio, completed the record-setting livestock team.
The day after the livestock contest, Cody Shafer, Eaton, Ohio, Lydia Ulry, Johnstown, Ohio, and Megan Hunker, Bellevue, Ohio, joined Bartenslager and Ruffing to make their mark in the carload contest, which consisted of 23 teams. It is the only contest of its kind in the world. The team placed fourth overall, another OSU best, and Ruffing took home a new pair of cowboy boots, a briefcase, and a piece of Dino Cornay artwork for winning the contest. Ruffing scored 341 out of 350 points to become OSU’s first high individual in the event.
The 2014 OSU Livestock Judging Team consists of Zach Bartenslager, Lewisburg, West Virginia, Levi Criswell, Marion, Ohio, Tonya Fender, Lynchburg, Ohio, Megan Hunker, Bellevue, Ohio, Jacob Ruffing, Republic, Ohio, Cody Shafer, Eaton, Ohio, Courtney Tarvin, Mt. Olivet, Kentucky, and Lydia Ulry, Johnstown, Ohio. Emily Limes, Bowling Green, Ohio, is serving as the Assistant Coach of the team.
Congratulations to all the teams and participants. For more information about the OSU Livestock Judging Team, please contact Kyle Culp at 260-223-3578 or culp.1045@osu.edu.
Photo: Left to Right, seated – Zach Bartenslager, Lewisburg, West Virginia, Courtney Tarvin, Mt. Olivet, Kentucky, Levi Criswell, Marion, Ohio, Tonya Fender, Lynchburg, Ohio, Jacob Ruffing, Republic, Ohio; Left to Right, standing – Coach Kyle Culp, Lydia Ulry, Johnstown, Ohio, Cody Shafer, Eaton, Ohio, Megan Hunker, Bellevue, Ohio, and Assistant Coach Emily Limes, Bowling Green, Ohio.