National Barrow Show
Austin, Minnesota • Sept. 9
SWINE JUDGING CONTEST

Winners in the 68th annual NATIONAL BARROW SHOW® Swine Judging Contest held Sept. 8th in Austin, MN., were Texas Tech University of Lubbock, TX in the senior college division; Black Hawk College of Galva, IL in the junior college division; and Georgia FFA in the junior division. The winning team in each of the three levels of judging competition was awarded
according to points accumulated in the contest. This year’s contest attracted 74 teams and 410 participants from across the United States.

Senior College Division

Texas Tech University won first place in the senior college division with a score of 3309 points out of a possible 3500 points.
The Texas Tech University team competed against 14 other teams in the university division. Members of this team, coached by Ryan Rathmann, included Jacob McKillip, Kylan Carson, Taylor Frank, Austin Crissman, Ian Schaefer, Garrett Foote, and Austin Langemeier.

Iowa State University, Ames, IA was second in the senior college division with a score of 3305 points. Coached by Jon DeClerk, this team was comprised of Austin Lane, Matt Romoser, Kyle Ruth, Amber Shipe, and Tim Johnson. Western Illinois University, came in third with a score of 3304. The Ohio State University finished fourth with 3297 and Oklahoma State University, was fifth with 3281. Additional team placings in the senior college division were: Sixth – Texas A&M University, 3275; Seventh – South Dakota State University, 3272; Eighth – Purdue University, 3251; Ninth –University of Minnesota, 3240; and Tenth – University of Illinois, 3226.

Austin Lane, Iowa State University, was the top individual of 114 competing in the university division with 675 points out of a possible 700. In second place with a score of 675 (tie broken on total reasons score), representing Texas Tech University was Nick Fitzsimmons. Picking up third was Max Look, Western Illinois University, with a score of 673, while Ashley Judge of Oklahoma State University finished 4th with a score of 672. The top five was rounded out with Zach Bartenslager of The Ohio State University, with a score of 671.

Senior college reasons awards were given to the top team and top five individuals. The Oklahoma State University squad captured first with 939 points. The high individual in reasons was Ashley Judge, Oklahoma State University with a score of 192 out of a possible 200. Second place in Senior College Reasons was awarded to Breanna Lawyer, Purdue University with a score of 192 (tie broken by lower placing total on reasons classes), followed by Taylor Langford, Oklahoma State University in third with a score of 191, and Mari Palacio, Oklahoma State University with a score of 191 in fourth. There was a three way tie for fifth place, all with a score of 190. Winning the tiebreak was Ian Schaefer, Texas Tech University, Matt Romoser, Iowa State University, finished 6th, and Austin Lane, Iowa State University finished 7th.

Junior College Division

Black Hawk College, Galva, IL took home top honors out of 13 teams in the junior college division with a score of 3340 points out of a possible 3500 points. Coached by Dan Hoge and Jared Boyert, team members were Clayton Boyert, Hayden Wilder, Maggie Neer, Kendal Steines, Kade Knapp, Colton Geiger, and Tyler Dawson.
Lakeland College, Mattoon, IL finished second with a score of 3300. Lakeland is coached by Ryan Orrick and their team consisted of Austin Hyett, Dylan Sigrist, Bodee Schlipf, Carson Hank, Trey Fecke, Tyson Schulte, and Eli Petersen. Blinn College finished third with a score of 3277, Lincoln Land Community College, Springfield, IL, finished fourth with a score of 3265, and Casper College, Casper, WY placed fifth with a score of 3246. Additional team placings in the junior college division were: Sixth – Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, 3218; Seventh – Illinois Central College, 3179 Eighth – Northern Oklahoma College, 3164; Ninth – Joliet Junior College, 3041; and Tenth – John Wood Community College, 2942.

The 103 contestants in the junior college division made for some stiff competition for top individual Clayton Boyert, Black Hawk College coming out ahead with a total of 675 out of a possible 700 points and right behind in second was teammate Hayden Wilder with a score of 674. Finishing third with a score of 669, representing Casper College was Luke Fuerniss. There was a tie for fourth place, broken on reasons scores, Austin Hyett of Lakeland College was awarded fourth, with Maggie Neer received fifth.

Black Hawk College also took home the High Team Reasons score, with a combined effort of 925 out of 1000 total points. High Individual reasons was another tight race with Hayden Wilder, Black Hawk College taking home top honors with a score of 194. Luke Fuerniss, Casper College, finished second with a score of 193. Four points behind in a three way tie for third place, were Brody Halfmann, Blinn College, third place, Jackson Johnson, Lincoln Land Community College, and Clayton Boyert, Black Hawk College. The ties were broken on the lower placings total on Reasons classes.

Junior Division

Georgia FFA coached by Lee Crump, captured top honors in the junior division of the 68th annual NBS® Swine Judging Contest this year. There were 46 teams in the Junior Division from nine states which included Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Indiana, Georgia, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Missouri. The Georgia FFA team members Kevin Edwards, Lori Edwards, Makayla Holmes, Cullie Williams accumulated 1069 of a possible 1125 points. Indiana (Lafayette) finished second with 1067 with teammates Caleb Harper, Jared Lamle, Jake Pettigrew, and Ross House. Kingfisher FFA, OK under the guidance of Ryan Burns came in third with a score of 1042. Tri-Point FFA, IL, was fourth with 1025 and Missouri FFA wrapped up fifth with 1021points.

The high individual in the junior division with a score of 366 out of 375 possible was Mercedes Schulz of Markesan FFA, WI. In second, and the winner of the tie breaker, was Caleb Harper, Indiana with a total of 363. With the same score finishing third, broken on total questions, was Logan Sieren, Washington County 4-H, IA. Blake Roselieb, Annawan, IL, placed fourth with a score of 362. Kevin Edwards, Georgia FFA, finished fifth with 358 points.
The competition is held in conjunction with the four-day National Barrow Show® in Austin, MN. This event is co-sponsored by Hormel Foods Corporation and the National Association of Swine Records.