The Blinn College livestock judging team recently had the top-ranked team and the high point individual at the highly competitive American Royal Livestock Judging Contest in Kansas City.
Blinn totaled 4,623 points to capture the team title recently in the junior college division over second-place Redlands (Okla.) Community College (4,605 points). Blinn placed first in cattle and swine, third in reasons, and fourth in sheep/goats.
The Bucs’ Kinsey Gardner was the top individual with 958 points, placing first in cattle, fifth in reasons, sixth in swine, and eighth in sheep/goats. Devyn Gaff was sixth-place individual and placed seventh in cattle and eighth in swine. Blane Warnken was ninth in the individual contest and placed seventh in swine.
“The American Royal is one of our five major national contests throughout the course of the year, and we couldn’t be prouder of our students for winning a national title this week,” said Adrian Austin, livestock judging team assistant coach. “Their constant dedication to being great people, great students, and great judgers continues to add to their well-deserved success.”
Blinn maintained its second-place spot in Livestockjudging.com’s national rankings with three first-place, three second-place finishes, and a third place at its seven contests this year.
Its next competition is the Southern Stockman Livestock Judging Contest on Nov. 4 in Lubbock, Texas.
Blinn’s Agricultural Sciences Program has one of the most active extracurricular programs in the state, including livestock judging, Agriculture Club, wildlife, agriculture mechanics, and horticulture. Blinn offers agriculture classes on all its campuses, with the W.J. “Bill” Rankin Agricultural Complex on the Brenham Campus serving as the program’s hub.
To learn more about Blinn’s Agricultural Sciences Program and the livestock judging team, visit www.blinn.edu/agricultural-sciences.
About the Blinn College District
With innovative programs and award-winning co-enrollment partnerships, Blinn’s academic transfer rate ranks No. 1 among Texas community colleges. For more information, visit www.blinn.edu.
PHOTO: Blinn College had the top team in the junior college division at the American Royal Livestock Judging Contest in Kansas City. Pictured are (front, from left) Steele Kenney, Blane Warnken (ninth place individual), Kinsey Gardner (high individual), Devyn Gaff (sixth place individual), and Dax DeLozier; and (back, from left) coach Adrian Austin, Weston Hinze, Cassie Jo Bennett, Tanna Thiel, Holly Alderson, Bryson Stone, and coach Quest Newberry.
Courtesy of Richard Bray