2024 Meat Judging Team

NWSS meat juding team picture

Team Members


Jordan

Jordan Anderson

Hometown: Centre Hall, PA
 
Major: Agriculture Communications, minor in Ag Business
 
Year in School: Junior
 
Career Plans: Work in communications, marketing or advocacy within the agriculture industry while continuing my photography business
 
Hobbies/Interests: Photography, cooking/baking, showing cattle, hanging out with friends
 
Why did you choose to participate on the meat judging team?
I joined the meat judging team because I really enjoyed learning about the industry in my previous classes and I love the environment of positivity and growth that my teammates and coaches cultivate. 

Leah Allen

Hometown: Steamboat Springs Colorado 
 
Major: Agricultural Communications
 
Year in School: Senior
 
Career Plans: I hope to represent the beef industry and continue my family's cattle ranch. 
Hobbies/Interests: I'm a chocolate connoisseur and I love to spend time outside, on horseback and with my family and friends.  
 
Why did you choose to participate on the meat judging team? I was excited for the new experinces, friends, and knowledge. 
Leah

Aida

Aida Hester

Hometown: Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado

Major: Ag Business and Elementary Education

Year in School: Freshman

Career Plans: Teach elementary and manage the family ranch

Hobbies/Interests: Riding my horse, baking, reading, hunting, fishing

Why did you choose to participate on the meat judging team? 

I have a passion for agriculture and I wanted to get involved in any way I could.  I had heard amazing things about McKensie, so I decided to join the team.


Kristy Benjamin

Hometown: Pinedale, Wyoming
 
Major: Animal Science with a concentration in Pre-veterinary medicine
 
Year in School: Junior
 
Career Plans: I hope to find a job in the animal science field. 
 
Hobbies/Interests: I love doing things outdoors like hunting and fishing. I also love to bake and play the piano, guitar and sing. 
 
Why did you choose to participate on the meat judging team? 
I choose to participate on the meat judging team because I thought it would be really interesting to learn more about that side of agriculture. 
Kristy

Hailey

Hailey Rasmussen

Hometown: Estes Park, Colorado

Major: Agriculture Business

Year in School: Sophomore

Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy riding horses, cooking, and being outside

Why did you choose to participate on the meat judging team? 

I chose to be on the meat judging team because I wanted to try something new. I also really love McKensie and knew that it would be a great experience with her as the coach!

 


Sarah Turner

Hometown: Cheyenne
 
Major: Agriculture Education with Animal and Veterinary Sciences 
 
Year in school: Sophomore
 
Career Plans: Teach high school agriculture and advise an FFA program
 
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, baking, and being a parliamentarian
 
I chose to be on the Meats Judging team to do something more in college and learn new things. I stayed because of the people and all the things we get to experience on the road together! 
 

Sam

Sam Waller

Hometown: Basalt, CO
 
Major: Animal Science 
 
Year In School: Sophomore
 
Career Plans: Unknown 
 
Hobbies/Interests: Hunting, Enjoying the Outdoors
 
Why I chose the Meat Judging Team: I chose to be apart of the Meat Judging Team to gain a better understanding of meat quality and the Meat industry as a whole. I also chose the team to be part of a hard working, driven team with similar interests and goals.

Kaitlyn Brandenburg

Hometown: Council Bluffs, Iowa
 
Major: Agricultural Communications
 
Year in School: Junior
 
Career Plans: Housewife 
 
Hobbies/Interests: Shopping, Ministry, Coffee
 
Why did you choose to participate on the livestock judging team? 
I chose to participate on the meat judging team to create new connections with people around the country. Taking the class allowed me to learn so much about meat science, and how much more of an appreciation I have for the industry. I became intrigued about what more I could learn about meat science! 
Kaitlyn

Joe

Joe Mills

Hometown: Peyton, Colorado

Major: Animal Science

Year in School: Sophomore

Career Plans: Animal Nutritional Management or Meat Science

Hobbies/Interests: Hunting, Fishing, Camping, Skiing

Why did you choose to participate on the meat judging team?: I chose to participate on the meat judging team to make connections with the meat industry and compete with other students of similar interests.


Emi Ramirez

Hometown: Steamboat Springs Colorado 
 
Major: Animal Science 
 
Year in School: Senior 
 
Career Plans: Working with livestock with a focus in reproduction. 
 
Hobbies : cheese connoisseur
 
I choose to participate on the meat judging team to learn more about the meat industry and applied what I learn to my future career. 
Emi

 

Stella Ordahl


Koy Stanley