The Purdue University Livestock Judging Team returned from the All‑East Livestock Contest in Champaign, Illinois, with multiple awards and a second‑place team finish. Second high team honors reflected consistent scoring across market and breeding divisions and in oral reasons throughout the three‑day event. Coaches Hattie McGrady and Clay Kretzmeier led the squad that competed across several species categories.
The All‑East contest tested a broad set of skills: teams estimated carcass measurements and values, answered 90 questions about 48 breeding animals, and completed a standard 12‑class, eight‑set judging contest. Over the three days, Purdue team members evaluated livestock in multiple species and categories and together assessed roughly 120 animals in the competition. 120 animals evaluated showcased the breadth of the contest and the team’s depth across species.
Purdue’s team results included top placements across cattle, swine, sheep and goats, and the roster also claimed the event’s dodgeball championship as a lighter highlight. The team placed third overall in cattle and second overall in swine, while finishing second in the sheep and goat division. Judges scored the team’s presentations and reasons competitively against strong regional programs.
Team results
In market animal evaluation, Purdue finished second high team overall, with subdivision placings of second in market cattle evaluation, third in market swine evaluation, and second in market sheep evaluation. Those marks reflected steady performance when animals were judged for market traits and carcass merit.
Purdue also finished second high team in breeding animal selection. Within breeding divisions the team placed third in breeding cattle selection, first in breeding swine selection, and fourth in breeding sheep selection, demonstrating particular strength in swine breeding assessment.
Across formal livestock judging rounds, the team placed fourth overall. Individual judging placements included fifth in cattle judging, first in swine judging, fourth in sheep and goat judging, and fourth in reasons, indicating strong oral communication and species‑specific evaluation skills.
Individual honors
Matthew Strange, a junior studying animal sciences from Marion, Indiana, finished sixth overall in the contest and recorded top‑10 finishes across multiple divisions: sixth overall cattle, seventh overall swine, ninth overall sheep and goat, 10th in market animal evaluation, sixth in breeding animal selection, seventh in livestock judging, and sixth in swine judging. Sixth overall individual captured his broad showing across the contest’s components. Strange said the team experience has improved his confidence and professional connections.
Sophomore Kelsie Avery of Kokomo, Indiana, placed eighth overall and had notable finishes including fourth in overall cattle and fourth in market animal evaluation, plus top‑10 results in breeding selection categories. Avery said passion for livestock judging motivates the team’s commitment and growth.
Chemical engineering student Landon Sanders of Cedar Park, Texas, earned ninth overall and was high individual overall in swine while also placing third in market animal evaluation. Sanders described the All‑East format’s multi‑day, multifaceted approach as both a mental challenge and a rewarding test of consistency.
Sophomore Ellie Gosser of Flat Rock, Indiana, placed eighth in overall swine, third in breeding swine selection and second in swine judging, highlighting Purdue’s strength in swine evaluation. Additional individual honors included Grace Kreischer (high individual breeding sheep selection, fourth overall breeding animal selection), Kinsey Rohls (top‑10 market cattle and sheep placings), Zach Lang (third in market cattle evaluation) and Michael Baden (eighth in market cattle evaluation).
Photo - ag.purdue.edu
