The first contest of the season is held in conjunction with the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado. This contest is hosted by JBS USA and is held the third week of January. This is one of the largest intercollegiate meat judging contests; over 100 students from all around the country will compete for the first time. The University of Wyoming calls this their "home" contest because it is the closest to Laramie. There is no better way to start the competitive season than in Denver!
Iowa State University hosts an invitational contest for all intercollegiate meat judging schools. This contest is unique because students will be asked to evaluate processed meat products. If you thought meat judging was all about individual performance, think again because this contests asks students from each school to work together as a team to place two classes and write two sets of reasons.
The team will travel down to Fort Worth, Texas to compete at the Southwestern Intercollegiate Meat Judging contest. This contest is hosted in conjunction with the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo and is hosted by Frontier Meats.
Coordinated by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and hosted by Martin's Preferred Foods, the meat judging contest held in Houston is great for UW students to start rounding out their spring season of competion. Students typically enjoy the flight down south to warmer weather and exposure to more professionals in the meat and major livestock show industries.
For the first time in school history, the University of Wyoming Meat Judging team competed at the 2018 Southeastern Meat Judging contest held in Columbus, OH and Lexington, KY. The Ohio State University and the University of Kentucky jointly host this contest each spring. This is the final contest of the spring season.
The Hormel National Barrow Show Meat Judging contest is a relatively new contest hosted by one of the leading companies in the pork industry. Students on the 2018 UW Meat Judging Team competed for the first time in this contest which is held annually in Austin, MN. This pork-only contest is a unique opportunity for students to hone-in on their pork evaluation skills.
Each fall the University of Wyoming Meat Judging Team flies to the east coast to compete in the Eastern National contest hosted by Cargill in Wyalusing, PA. This is a very fun trip - past teams have had the opportunity to visit Niagra Falls and New York City after competing.
Only two weeks after the team returns from the Eastern contest, they will compete at the American Royal in Omaha, Nebraska. This contest is hosted by Elanco Animal Health and Nebraska Beef. The University of Wyoming Meat Judging Team always enjoys the trip out to Nebraska for this contest!
The High Plains contest is hosted by Cargill in Friona, Texas. The University of Wyoming Meat Judging team heads south to practice at many great facilities before competing at this prestigious contest. This contest is the last stop before the team competes in the cooler for the last time.
The International Meat Judging Contest is the grand finale! Teams from around the country practice many hours and travel many miles preparing for this final contest. Tyson Foods graciously hosts students, coaches, friends, and families in Dakota Dunes, SD each November. The University of Wyoming Meat Judging Team looks forward to competing at this final contest each year because it marks the end of a whirlwind journey for every student who wears the gold hard hat with the steamboat sticker.
