MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Kansas State University Meat Animal Evaluation Team won National Champion honors at the 2022 Collegiate Meat Animal Evaluation Contest hosted in Lubbock, Texas. The team was recognized Tuesday, April 26 following the three-day competition.
The event, previously known as the AKSARBEN contest, now rotates between host institutions across the country. The competition includes live market animal carcass predictions and pricing, breeding animal evaluation and meat judging competition and truly serves as a capstone judging experience for students with its incorporation of so many industry applicable concepts.
The team placed first in the breeding, beef, sheep, swine and market animal divisions of the contest. Individually K-State had seven members place in the top 10 overall, including the top three individuals. Cody Knodle, Fillmore, Illinois, was first; Macie Weigand, Monona, Iowa, second; and Colby Hough, Mount Airy, Maryland, third. (See complete individual and team results below.)
“The Meat Animal Evaluation contest is the most comprehensive test of students’ knowledge of the factors that impact production of meat from livestock. Many of the students that compete in this contest have already demonstrated excellence in animal and/or meat evaluation, and this annual opportunity for them to pull their knowledge, education and past training together make this a true Capstone experience for all,” says Dr. Mike Day, KSU ASI department head. “The capacity for all-inclusive consideration of product value as impacted by genetics and management is crucial to economic efficiency of meat production. Congratulations to our K-State students and coaches for their high level of excellence in this competition.”
The team is coached by Dr. Travis O'Quinn and Chris Mullinix.
Team Results:
Champion Team — Breeding Division
Champion Team — Swine Division
Champion Team — Sheep Division
Champion Team — Market Division
Champion Team — Beef Division
Second-Place Team — Meats Division
Third-Place Team — Communications Division
Individual Results:
Cody Knodle, Fillmore, Illinois – 1st Overall, 8th Beef, 6th Breeding, 2nd Market, 7th Sheep, 3rd Swine
Macie Weigand, Monona, Iowa – 2nd Overall, 5th Beef, 5th Meats, 4th Sheep
Colby Hough, Mt. Airy, Maryland – 3rd Overall 1st Breeding, 1st Market, 2nd Sheep, 5th Swine
Eric Sahagun, Arroyo Grande, California– 6th Overall, 7th Beef, 4th Breeding, 8th Market
Makenna Green, Arthur, Illinois – 7th Overall, 3rd Market, 8th Sheep
Lindsey Decker, Philo, Illinois – 9th Overall, 10th Beef, 8th Meats, 4th Swine
Britton Coates, Baldwin, Kansas – 10th Overall, 10th meats, 1st Swine
Tessa Beeman, Hamilton, Kansas – 4th Beef
Emily Albright, Delia, Kansas – 7th Swine, 9th Meats
Jacob Schmeidler, Hays, Kansas – 5th Breeding
Steph Witberler, Marathon, Wisconsin – 3rd Meats
Kami McComb, Pratt, Kansas – 4th Market
Jacob Johnson, Ruth, Mississippi – 6th Market
Members of the National Champion Meat Animal Evaluation Team from Kansas State University (pictured back row, l to r) are: Chris Mullinix, Manhattan, Kan., coach; Tessa Beeman, Hamilton, Kansas; Steph Witberler, Marathon, Wisconsin; Ben Bradbury, Winfield, Kansas; Britten Coates, Baldwin, Kansas; Jacob Johnson, Ruth, Mississippi; Colby Hough, Mt. Airy, Maryland; Eric Sahagun, Arroyo Grande, California; Cody Knodle, Fillmore, Illinois; Rhett Lowderman, Macomb, Illinois; and Wyatt Banks, Cynthiana, Kentucky, assistant coach. Front row (l to r) are: Jacob Schmeidler, Hays, Kansas; Macie Weigand, Monona, Iowa; Taylor Dieball, Little River, Kansas; Grace Knepp, Lincolnville, Kansas; Kylynn Mallen, Cameron, Missouri; Makenna Green, Arthur, Illinois; Emily Albright, Delia, Kansas; Terra Heilman, Cushing, Iowa; Kami McComb, Pratt, Kansas; Lindsey Decker, Philo, Illinois; Holly Sinning, Mansfield, Missouri; Tara Hummel, Cabery, Illinois; and Travis O’Quinn, Manhattan, Kan., coach.