WT Meat Judging Team Opens 2025 with First Victory at National Western Contest

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — West Texas A&M University’s champion meat judging team kicked off 2025 with its first-ever victory at the National Western Stock Show Meat Judging Contest in the Denver area.

The team won by three points over Texas A&M University, its nearest competitor, at the contest, held Jan. 17 at JBS Foods in Greeley, Colorado.

“I am proud of these students for excelling at an extremely challenging first contest, especially with little to no prior experience in meat judging prior to coming to WT,” said Dr. Loni Lucherk, Gordon W. Davis Endowed Chair in Meat Judging. “This win gives us great confidence and momentum headed into our next few spring contests.”

This was the first competition of the season for the team. Last year’s squad dominated several competitions throughout the fall semester.

In Greeley, the WT squad took first place in specifications, second in reasons, second in pork judging, second in beef judging, third in lamb judging and third in placings.

Kale Benton, a junior animal science major from Buffalo, Wyoming, was third overall and second in beef grading. Morgan Thorn, a junior animal science major from Clovis, New Mexico, was first in the alternate division and earned a perfect score in specifications. Jozie Petit, a sophomore agricultural media and communication major from Seymour, was first in reasons with a record score for WT; second in pork judging and specifications, the latter with a perfect score; and third in beef judging. Kaslyn Moczygemba, a sophomore agricultural media and communication major from Karnes City, was first in specifications with a perfect score and fourth in beef judging. Spencer Walahoski, a sophomore animal science major from Overton, Nebraska, was fifth in both specifications and placings.

Ryan Stricker, a sophomore animal science major from Magnolia, and Ellie Swain, a sophomore animal science major from Robinson, each earned perfect scores in specifications.

The team also includes Sterling Berry, a sophomore animal science major from Cotton Center; Madison Brittan, a sophomore animal science major from Severance, Colorado: Cooper Coffelt, a junior animal science major from Whitney; and Lyndsey Pancost, a sophomore agricultural education major from Milliken, Colorado.

In addition to Lucherk, coaches are Megan Eckhardt, a New Braunfels native pursuing a Ph.D. in agriculture; Shelton Luedke, a graduate student in animal science from Hondo; and Ryan Heitschmidt, a graduate student in animal science from Nazareth.

The team next will compete Feb. 2 in Ennis, then Feb. 22 in Hereford and March 8 in Houston.

WT’s meat judging team is one of the ways the University is responsive to regional needs, as set out in the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised more than $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT, a Regional Research University, is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Photo: The West Texas A&M University Meat Judging team recently won the National Western Stock Show Meat Judging Contest in Greeley, Colorado. Team members are, front from left, Ellie Swain, Kaslyn Moczygemba, Kale Benton, Jozie Petit and Morgan Thorn; and, back from left, Coach Megan Eckhardt, Madison Brittan, Sterling Berry, Ryan Stricker, Spencer Walahoski, Coach Shelton Luedke, Cooper Coffelt, Coach Ryan Heitschmidt and Lyndsey Pancost. Not pictured is Coach Dr. Loni Lucherk.

—WT—