News

The Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) Livestock Judging Team travelled to Kansas City, Mo., to compete in the American Royal Junior College Judging Contest, finishing in the top ten at the event. The century old show held each year at the Kansas City Stockyards hosts a variety of livestock judging events, shows, rodeos, equine events, and educational programming. Organizers are proud of the show’s tradition of providing scholarships and educational opportunities for youth and adults from around the country. The NEO sophomore team claimed ninth place overall and several top-twenty individual finishes in the competition against 25 team from 15 states. Strongest among the team results, was NEO’s Reasons scoring, in which they claimed third place. The team was bolstered by Cagney Effling, who earned sixth in the Individual Reasons category. Effling, a sophomore from Highmore, S.D., was joined in the top-twenty by Abby Spindle, a sophomore from Miami, Alexa Montagne, a sophomore from Elk Point, S.D., and Sarah Harris, a sophomore from Buchanan, Va. The NEO team is comprised of Spindle, Montagne, Effling, Sophomore Grant Hubbard, Sophomore Kassidy Fletcher, Harris and Sophomore Stetson Eschenbaum. Along with the finish in Reasons, the team earned sixteenth in beef cattle, twelfth in swine, and fourth in sheep and goats. As the season progresses, the team members are also competing amongst each other to make the All-American Show team. “The team competes at four contests throughout the year to be considered for the All American competition,” said Coach Taylor Graham. “It’s exciting how many people we now have in that race” In addition to the NEO team, NEO freshman competed in the 4-H and local FFA division contests, with Ashley Peterson from Remington, Ind., finished fourth overall in the 4-H division and Sky Hoot from Locust Grove, Okla., earned tenth overall in the FFA division The team will now travel to the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, KY. For more information about NEO livestock judging, contact Graham at taylor.graham10@neo.edu. (Photos from top: NEO Livestock Team. Bottom: Ashley Peterson and Sky Hoot with their awards.)