JOHNSON COUNTY 4-H MEATS JUDGING TEAM WINS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

The Johnson County 4-H Meats Judging Team traveled to Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, to compete in the annual American Royal National 4-H Meats Judging Contest last week.  The Johnson County team representing Texas walked away with the National Championship honors.  This is only the fourth time that Texas has won this contest since 1970.  Sixty nine contestants representing eighteen states competed in this year’s contest.  Other states placing were Wyoming in second place, Alabama in third, Missouri in fourth, and Minnesota in fifth.

The Johnson County students that make up the team are: Ashley Come of Grandview,

Lucas Gaston of Burleson, Jodi Miller of Grandview, and Loni Woolley of Grandview.  Coaches are Tarleton State University student Jason Gaston of Burleson and Texas Tech student Landi Woolley of Grandview.  This team was named the Texas State Champion Team in June at Texas A& M University during Texas 4-H Roundup.

The Meats Contest which is sponsored by the American Meat Science Association tests students’ skills in meat evaluation and retail cut identification in the species of beef, pork, and lamb.  Contestants are required to identify retail cuts after first identifying the specie and wholesale cut of the carcass as well as naming the cookery method for each cut.  Placing classes require students to evaluate and place carcasses and cuts based on quality

and yield. They must also defend their placing decisions through oral reasons on multiple classes.  An extensive knowledge of meat science coupled with livestock anatomy and physiology is required to be successful in this contest.

The results are as follows:

Beef Judging: 1^st Place Team; Loni Woolley – 1^st High Individual; Jodi Miller – 4^th High Individual.

Pork Judging: 1^st Place Team; Loni Woolley – 1^st High Individual; Ashley Come – 3^rd High Individual.

Retail Cut Judging: 1^st Place Team; Loni Woolley – 2^nd High Individual; Ashley Come – 5^th High Individual.

Oral Reasons: 1^st Place Team; Loni Woolley – 2^nd High Individual; Ashley Come – 3^rd High Individual.

Total Judging: 1^st Place Team; Loni Woolley – 1^st High Individual; Ashley Come – 3^rd High Individual; Jodi Miller – 4^th High Individual.

Retail Cut Identification: 2^nd Place Team.

Overall Individual Competition: Loni Woolley was 2^nd High Individual and was awarded a $750 Scholarship; Ashley Come was 4^th High Individual; Jodi Miller was 9^th High Individual; Lucas Gaston was 16^th High Individual.

This team was sponsored by Johnson County Farm Bureau; HEB; Gilliam, Wharram & Co., P.C., CPA’s; CiCi’s Pizza of Cleburne; Roy & Lisa Russell; Lone Star Land Bank; Bransom’s Grocery; Dr. John Mehaffey DVM; Grandview Ag. Youth Booster Club; Johnson County 4-H Adult Booster Club; Zebra Express; Burgundy Beef; Winn-Bunting Meat; and Larry Woolley & Associates Real Estate.