MEEKER I The Texas Tech livestock judging team has won the Houston Stock Show event four of the last five years, wrapping up a strong spring season with solid performances at the Houston and San Antonio stock shows.
The overall livestock judging team effort was buoyed by a former Meeker student, MacLaine Shults of Meeker, who was graduated from MHS in 2014.
The livestock team took first place at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Intercollegiate Livestock Judging Contest on March 14. Texas Tech outpaced Big 12 Conference rivals Oklahoma State University (second) and Kansas State University (fourth) as well as former conference foe Texas A&M University (third).
“We had a very strong spring winning both Fort Worth and Houston,” said Ryan Rathmann, the team coach and an associate professor in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences. “I am extremely proud of the young men and women on the team. They have worked extremely hard and represented Texas Tech with class.”
The livestock team had a strong showing at the San Antonio Livestock Exposition Collegiate Livestock Contest, coming in third with 4,603 points.
Gabe Jennings, a junior from Fredonia, led the Texas Tech contingent with a first-place finish, racking up 952 points and followed closely by Martin in second place with 949. MacLaine Shults, a junior from Meeker, Colo., finished seventh with 945 points.
“We have had a pretty good run in Texas contests winning 10 out of the last 11 contests over the last several years,” Rathmann said. “Specifically we have won Houston the last four consecutive years and five out of the last six. I look forward to the fall and fully expect them to be in the hunt for a national championship.”
