Livestock Judging Team Wins Scottish Contest
(Press Release 08-18-09)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

    It’s hard to be humble when you travel half way across the world to compete and return from Edinburgh, Scotland winning the show.
 
    But the Eastern Oklahoma State College Livestock Judging Team returned as champions and humble.
 
    Five Eastern agriculture students and their sponsors traveled to Scotland this summer as a result of an invitation from the Scottish Association of Young Farmers last fall.
 
    The team participated in the 2009 International Livestock Judging Tour held in conjunction with the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh, Scotland. 
 
    The students were invited after placing at the Louisville Livestock Judging Contest last fall. Eastern students included:  Sabrina Meeks from Broken Bow; Chelsea Coffman, Valliant; Daniel Martin, Morris; Katie Caudill, Mt Sterling, KY, and Mark McPeak, Hayworth. Advisors included Todd Blocker, Eastern livestock judging coach and Eastern Farm Manager Troy Walker.
 
    This was a “once in a lifetime experience,” Blocker said.
 
    “The students, alumni and everyone worked hard to raise the money for the trip.
 
    “It was highlighted by an incredible win,” he said.
 
    Blocker said Eastern’s team finished second in the sheep division, second in the beef cattle division and won the overall competition with a combined team score of 1,019 points. That was 19 points better than the next closest team.
 
    In addition to team honors, Caudill, was the high individual in the sheep division. Meeks was second high individual in the beef cattle division.
 
    The group also had the opportunity to visit many agricultural and cultural areas during the two-week tour of the region which included stops in Scotland, England, France, Germany and Belgium.
 
    Blocker said points of interest included Buckingham Palace, London Bridge, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre.
 
Caption info:

Eastern Oklahoma State College Livestock Judging Team members touring Europe recently include from left:  Eastern Farm Manager Troy Walker;  Chelsea Coffman, Valliant; Daniel Martin, Morris;  Mark McPeak, Hayworth; Sabrina Meeks, Broken Bow; Livestock Judging Coach Todd Blocker and Katie Caudill, Mt. Sterling, KY.