Livestock Judging Team Places 5th at Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

After a long spring judging season, the California State University, Chico Livestock Judging Team was awarded fifth place at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo—the highest the team has placed at that elite contest since 2001. Three animal science majors led the team, with Jared Wolf placing 5th in swine and 11th high individual, Noa Taipin placing 9th in beef cattle and 18th high individual, and Kylie Burriss placing 13th in sheep and goats. The team also placed 5th for high team in beef cattle and reasons, 6th in swine, and 7th in sheep and goats.

In collegiate livestock judging, the Houston Livestock Show is considered one of the largest, as it features over 27 universities competing. The top-ten teams were Kansas State, Oklahoma State, University of Wyoming, Western Illinois, Chico State, Texas A&M, Michigan State, Iowa State, South Dakota State, and Texas Tech.

The team, coached by Clay Carlson, is composed of students Samantha Bright, Kylie Burriss, Mikayla Duchi, Kelley Duggan, Nathan Johnson, Madison Morgan, Megan Rivera, Noa Taipin and Jared Wolf.

The Chico State team has consistently placed in the top 10 at livestock judging contests throughout the season. At the Iowa Beef Expo in February, they placed 8th for high team overall and 5th for high team in reasons. Also in February at the Nebraska Cattlemen's Classic, the team placed 6th overall and Duchi placed 5th overall as high individual. In January they traveled to Denver for the National Western Stock Show where they placed 10th high team.

The team will resume competition in September at the National Barrow Show in Austin, Minnesota. 

For information regarding the livestock judging team, contact Clay Carlson at ccarlson2@csuchico.edu.