RBC | The Rio Blanco County 4-H Meat Judging Team had a tremendous trip to the meats judging camps and contests held at Texas Tech University Animal Sciences during the third week of June. Johnny Rust, Ethan Summers and Blake Smith attended.
Team members were among Texas State FFA Meat Champion Judgers, youth who have been judging for years and years, professors who make a living doing research, teaching and coaching national champion collegiate teams. “All that to say, the quality of education was invaluable and it was really inspiring to see their personal bests happen at camp,” said coach Silvia Otobachian-Smith. “Johnny’s highlight were his beef reasons. He worked with world-renowned meat judging coach Dr. Miller on developing reasons and they were really good! Ethan’s were his placings and being in the Top 30 Overall at the contest! Blake’s camp was on a different day and he can’t wait to ‘graduate’ to the big kids group next year where he’ll do overnights and be immersed with more time and knowledge in the cooler. He was 3rd Overall and earned a banner at the Jr. Contest. His personal best was in placings and this year he quality graded very strongly,” Smith said, adding, “We congratulate these kids and honor the fact that they were the only Colorado Youth in attendance at these prestigious educational meat judging camps and contests. Way to represent, boys!”
