2020-2021 Iowa State University Intercollegiate Meat Judging Team
Front Row (Left to Right): Kaitlyn Baerg (2021) – Stanley; Leonora James (2020) – Carlisle; Bergin Debruin (2021) – Rock Rapids; Taylor Clark (2021) - Swan
Back Row (Left to Right): Coach Caroline Downey – Putnam, IL; Charli Mosier (2021) – Tipton; Kayla Hospodarsky (2021) – Cedar Rapids; Kourtney Grimm (2020) – Ogden; Lauren Mosher (2020) – Liscomb; Alexa Gormley (2021) – Marion; Kayle Eivins (2021) – Winterset; Sam Belanger (2020) – Lombard, IL; Emily Saeugling (2021) – Atlantic; Coach Dr. Sherry Olsen
2021 Lonestar Classic Meat Evaluation Contest
The 2021 ISU Meat Judging Team resumed travel in January. Coach Caroline Downey has travelled with the team to the Mountain West Contest, hosted by the 307 Meat Company, Laramie, WY and the Lone Star Classic, hosted by Columbia Packing, Ennis, Tx.
At the Mountain West in mid-January, the team was represented by: Sam Belanger, Lombard, IL; Kourtney Grimm, Ogden; Leonora James, Carlisle; and Lauren Mosher, Liscomb. The team finished 10th in the contest, and in divisions finished: beef grading - 6th, beef judging - 10th, lamb judging - 10th, overall beef - 9th, pork judging - 9th, specifications - 9th, placings - 10th, reasons - 8th. Leonora was 12th high individual, and in the divisions was in 2nd in placings and lamb carcasses, and 8th in beef grading and overall beef. Contest results: 1 - Texas Tech; 2 - West Texas A&M; 3 - Texas A&M; 4 - Oklahoma State University; 5 - Kansas State University with 12 teams competing.
At the Lone Star Classic in early February, the ISU program was represented by the entire team. In addition to the aforementioned judgers, also travelling were Taylor Clark, Swan; Bergin Debruin, Rock Rapids; Kayle Eivins, Winterset; Kayla Hospodarsky, Cedar Rapids; Charli Mosier, Tipton; and Emily Saeugling, Atlantic. The team finished 10th in the contest, and in divisions finished: beef grading - 11th, beef judging - 6th, lamb judging - 4th, overall beef - 10th, pork judging - 10th, specifications - 10th, placings - 4th, reasons - 10th. Bergin was 4th high individual in lamb judging. Also on this team are Kaitlyn Baerg, Stanley; and Alexa Gormley, Marion. Contest results: 1 - Texas Tech; 2 - Kansas State University; 3 - West Texas A&M; 4 - Oklahoma State University; 5 - Texas A&M University with 12 teams competing.
The team will be competing in the University of Illinois Virtual Meat Judging Contest on March 20, 2020.
Photo (left to right): Charli Mosier, Kayle Eivins, Taylor Clark, Kayla Hospodarsky, Lauren Mosher, Emily Saeugling, Leonora James, Bergin DeBruin, Sam Belanger
The ISU Meat Judging Team recently competed in a virtual contest coordinated by the University of Illinois. The team finished in third behind the University of Illinois and the University of Wyoming. In the team divisions, ISU finished third in beef, placings, pork, and reasons. Individual results in the pork division included Kayla Hospodarsky (Cedar Rapids) as high individual, and Emily Saeugling (Atlantic) finishing in fifth. Additional teams competing included: Purdue University; University of Florida, University of Nebraska, and Texas A&M University - Commerce.
ISU Meat Judging Team attends American Meat Science Association Student Leadership Conference
The ISU Meat Judging Team attended the American Meat Science Association Student Leadership Conference in Louisville, KY. The AMSA Educational Foundation, Merck Animal Health and Nestle Purina sponsored the event. The team listened to multiple guest speakers and had questions answered concerning their career paths in the meat industry and academia. Team members also took a personality test and learned how their strengths and weaknesses affect team building. Tours of the Jim Beam American Stillhouse and Churchill Downs were additional highlights of the event.
If you are interested in joining the team, check out this brochure for more information: