Eastern Lifestock Judging Team Brings Home First Place
(Press Release 11-06-06)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

The Eastern Oklahoma State College sophomore livestock judging team returned from the Arkansas/Oklahoma State Fair in Fort Smith with a first place overall finish recently. After five competitions so far this year, the team has four top-five finishes and is beginning to hit more national contests. “We are just getting started in major national competitions,” said Brad Groves, assistant livestock coach. “And there is a lot of potential for this team.”

The five-member team is rated in swine, cattle, reasons and sheep judging, as well as being individually scored. In Fort Smith, the team finished first in swine, cattle and reasons, with a second place finish in the sheep category.

Individually, Justin Green, of Pleasant Plains, Ark., finished first overall and Brooke Ross of Stillwell placed second. Jordan McDaniel, of El Dorado, Ark., left the contest with first place reasons and tenth place overall finishes. Waylon Ford, of Kinta, finished seventh overall and Katie Fields, from Mt. Pleasant, Texas, came in ninth place.

“This group of people is unique, in that they want to do well,” Ray Rice, head livestock coach said. “They have good team chemistry and a desire to do well.

“I think they have been complete this fall. This thing is a really tough event and, if all five of them show up, then we have the opportunity to do well.”

With two more competitions this fall, the season will continue through March, with a finish at the Houston Livestock Show.

“We’ve had some success in the past,” Groves added. “And this bunch can do as well as they allow themselves.”

Caption info:
Members of the Eastern Oklahoma State College sophomore livestock judging team include from front left: Jordan McDaniel, El Dorado, AR; Brooke Ross, Stillwell and Katie Fields, Mt. Pleasant, TX. Back row: Coach Brad Groves; Sam Peterman, El Reno; Jim Coffey, Prarie Grove, AR; Waylon Ford, Kinta; David Layton, Kiowa; Coach Ray Rice and Justin Green, Pleasant Plains, AR.