A California State University, Fresno student won a first place award and the school’s livestock judging team place fifth overall at the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock judging contest in Fort Worth, Texas, on Feb. 7.

David Downs of Kingsburg won a $400 Justin Boots award after ranking first high individual over all out of 100 competitors.

The full Fresno State team placed fifth high overall in the competition, which included 18 teams. Team members are Downs, Brady Otto of Galt, Brent George of Kingsburg, Robbie Massera of Salinas, Rebecca Bigelow of Atascadero, Heston Nunes of Modesto, and Michelle Forsythe of Mariposa. The team is coached by John Cordeiro of the Department of Animal Science and Agricultural Education.

Contestants judged the desirable traits or attributes of horses, beef cattle, sheep and swine.

Fresno State’s meat judging team, competing for only its second time, placed second in the “placings” sub-contest that included 10 teams.

Jennifer Knight of Clovis placed 11th overall and first high in the “quality and yield” sub-contest. The team as a whole placed fifth high in the quality and yield contest.

Last month in the team’s first competition in Denver, Colo., Knight placed first in the “placings” sub-contest.

The meat judging team, coached by Dr. John Henson and Scott Grumbles, includes Knight, Andy Barhydt of Grass Valley, Jordon Cordeiro of Clovis, Lisa McPeters of Madera and Ryan Clark of Bakersfield.

Contestants earn points based on how closely their rankings of the animals or carcasses compare with the officials’ ranking of the specimens.

The meat judging team was formed earlier this year by Henson, associate professor of Animal Sciences and Agricultural Education.

The livestock judging team has been in existence for more than 30 years. Club members are enrolled in a livestock-judging course offered by the Department of Animal Sciences and Agriculture Education.

Travel expenses are paid by donations, fund raising and Associated Students club funds.

The teams will compete next in Houston, Texas, on March 6. The national finals will be held in Nebraska in November.

For more information, contact Cordeiro at (559) 278-4331 or Henson at (559) 278-3921.

(Copy by University Relations student-intern Jodie Mocciaro)

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