UW Livestock Judging Team Sets Bar High for Fall Season

A top-10 finish at six livestock judging contests this spring boasts for a hopeful fall season for the University of Wyoming livestock judging team.

“I have geared the team exclusively for the national contest in November, and they have responded well to that commitment and idea,” says Coach Curtis Doubet. “I did not necessarily prep for each of the spring contests but, instead, used pieces of each spring contest for what they had to offer us in relation to what the NAILE (North American International Livestock Exposition) will be like this fall.”

Team members are Cooper Carlson, of Atwood, Colo.; McKenna Carnahan, from Julesburg, Colo.; Macy Collins, of Meeker, Colo.; Zachary Davis, from Sebastopol, Calif.; Justin Doubet, of Parker, Colo.; Kemsley Gallegos, from Laramie; Grace Gullatt, of Salem, Ala.; Holly Heckendorf, from Wellington, Colo.; Kenzie Morris, of Yuma, Colo.; Jared Roach, from Mapleton, Utah; and Jacey Taylor, of Montrose, Colo. Shanan Davey, from Olathe, Colo., is the assistant coach.               

The spring season kicked off in January at the Cattlemen’s Congress in Oklahoma City. The team was sixth high overall; sixth high in reasons; sixth high in cattle; sixth high in hogs; and sixth high in sheep and goats. Heckendorf placed sixth high in cattle and 20th overall. Carnahan was 17th overall.

At the Patriot contest in Texas, the team placed fourth overall; fourth in sheep and goats; fourth in hogs; fifth in reasons; and fifth in cattle. Carnahan was ninth in cattle and 16th overall.

The team placed fifth high team at the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic. Justin Doubet was 12th overall and 13th in reasons. Carnahan was eighth in reasons.

At the Iowa Beef Expo, the team was third high overall, second high team in placings, and fifth high team in reasons. Collins was 12th overall; Carlson was ninth in placings and 16th overall; and Carnahan was 11th in reasons.

During the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo in February, the team placed fifth overall; fifth in reasons; third in goats; third in sheep; fifth in hogs; and sixth in cattle. Collins was fifth overall, third in cattle and 10th in reasons. Heckendorf was high individual in goats and ninth overall. Justin Doubet was ninth in reasons and 11th overall. Carnahan placed eighth in hogs.

The season concluded at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, where the team placed sixth overall; third in sheep and goats; fifth in cattle; fifth in reasons; and 10th in hogs. Justin Doubet was fifth high in sheep and goats, and Heckendorf placed seventh high in cattle.

The team will go on to compete at contests in the fall leading up to the NAILE in Louisville, Ky., the largest all-breed, purebred livestock event in the world.

“In livestock judging, it is all about how you finish and not about how you start,” Coach Doubet says. “I believe with all my heart this team will finish strong and has the potential, the ability, the drive and the desire to be national champions.”