Kansas State University

View all photos from the event here.

For the first time since 2019, Kansas State University Department of Animal Sciences and Industry brought back the All-Judging Team Reunion—and it was a huge success with nearly 300 people in attendance.

The reunion welcomed back judging teams with class years ending in ‘5, alongside the current 2024 judging teams, for a day filled with celebration, recognition, and reconnection.

The day kicked off with a friendly round of competition at the morning golf tournament, where alumni and current team members had the chance to swap stories, share laughs, and enjoy time together on the course at Colbert Hills. The energy carried over to the evening banquet, held at the Stanley Stout Center, where past and present team members gathered to honor tradition and excellence.

Judging team coaches took the stage to recognize the 2024 teams, including the Meat Animal Evaluation Team, Horse Judging Team, Dairy Judging Team, Meat Judging Team, and Livestock Judging Team. These students were celebrated for their dedication and accomplishments throughout the year.

Several prestigious awards were presented during the evening, including:

• Outstanding Meat Judging Award – Reece Geer

• Meat Judging Vision of Excellence Award – All Members of the 2024 Meat Judging Team

• Sam Winnett Award – Jacob Klaudt

• F.W. Bell Award – Cole Murphy
  

• Scott Schaake Excellence Award – Dr. Scott Schaake
  *A new award was introduced this year to recognize a judging team alum who has made a significant impact in the animal agriculture industry. This honor celebrates individuals who have taken the skills and values learned through K-State’s judging programs and gone on to achieve excellence and influence in their professional careers.

• Don and Jane Good Outstanding Senior – Katrina Turner

The reunion served as a meaningful reminder of the legacy and lifelong connections built through K-State’s judging programs.

View more here.

The 95th Little American Royal was a success with nearly 101 participates in this year’s event hosted at the Sheep & Meat Goat Unit. See below a list of this year’s winners:

HORSE
Experienced Grand: Paige Soper
Experienced Reserved: Marwah Aql
Novice Grand: Logan Mitchell
Novice Reserve: Sara Lopez

SWINE
Experienced Grand: Lillian Merrill
Experienced Reserved: Cameron Zimmerman
Novice Grand: Caylie VanMeter
Novice Reserve: Jessica McIntosh

SHEEP
Experienced Grand: Nevaeh Powers
Experienced Reserved: Kylie Rogers
Novice Grand: Kaylynn Vogts
Novice Reserve: Ella Coulter

BEEF
Experienced Grand: Lilly Parks
Experienced Reserved: Emma Aufdemberge
Novice Grand: Meghan Garren
Novice Reserve: Logan Prichard

DAIRY

Experienced Grand: Amara Johnson
Experienced Reserved: Vivian Lacey
Novice Grand: Ella Coulter
Novice Reserve: Emma Burmaster

GOAT

Experienced Grand: Kalen Stavinoha
Experienced Reserved: Allison Roberts
Novice Grand: Claire Caldwell
Novice Reserve: Carolyn Armstrong

Collegiate Cattlewomen and Rodeo Club had booths at the College of Agriculture Hub on Waters Lawn.

Call Hall Dairy Bar welcomed guests and launched a new contest – Pound-A-Pint. Be sure to swing by Call Hall Dairy Bar before the close for renovations on May 17.

View more photos here.

Kansas State University Meat Science welcomed nearly 100 youth contestants to the Inaugural K-State Invitational Meat Judging Contest on Saturday, April 5, at the Meat Lab in Weber Hall. Designed to offer a top-tier judging experience, the contest and workout included 12 classes, 90+ retail identification cuts, and seven sets of questions—providing participants with an excellent opportunity to strengthen their evaluation skills.

Contestants represented 17 Kansas counties and traveled from as far as Illinois, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Kentucky to take part in the event.

The contest was organized and hosted by Erin Beyer, the Meat Science graduate students, and the 2025 K-State Meat Judging Team members, whose dedication and hard work made the event a success. Big thanks to everyone who helped make this contest a great experience for all involved.

• Save-the-Date: Meet with candidates for College of Agriculture, dean KSRE director
• Save-the-Date: The Department Undergraduate Research Symposium will be Friday, May 9 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Leadership Studies Townhall.
• ASI Graduate Student Research Symposium – Call for Abstracts: The ASI Graduate Student Research Symposium will take place on Wednesday, May 8, 2025 at the Stanley Stout Center. If you’d like to submit and abstract, please do so here. Diasnw_ASIRD
• Gamma Sigma Delta Undergraduate Research Showcase: The 2025 Gamma Sigma Delta Undergraduate Research Showcase will be held on Friday, April 18, 2025, from 1:00–3:00 p.m. in Hale 181. Undergraduate students interested in participating should apply by April 7, 2025, following the instructions in the attached document. For more information, please refer to the attachment or contact Jessie Vipham at jessiev@ksu.edu.
• As part of the Office of International Program’s Vernon Larson Lecture Series, Fulbright Visiting Scholar Dr. Kudzai Mukumbi will be presenting “Agricultural Extension in the Digital Age: Insights from Land Grant Institutions” on April 23, 2025, at 3 pm in the Staley School of Leadership’s Town Hall. The lecture will be will be followed by a panel on Fulbright Programs and a reception. Register here.
• UPCOMING DEFENSE:
  • Samantha Scott, April 18, in Call Hall 206 – “Decoding the Western Diet’s impact on blood biomarkers and cognitive performance in Ossabaw pigs”
• UPCOMING SEMINARS
  • Meat Science – Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in Weber 111
    • Wednesday, April 16 – Greta Huber – Journal Club: Use of High-Pressure Processing to Improve the Redness of Dark-Cutting Beef
    • Wednesday, April 23 – Linnea Rimmer – Seminar: Exploring the role of mitochondria in muscle growth: more than just a powerhouse
  • Monogastic Seminar – Wednesday 12:30 p.m. in Call Hall 140
  • Wednesday, April 16 – Samantha Swanson – Effect of insect meal in swine diets
  • Wednesday, April 23 – Abigail Jenkins – Estimating the value of alternatives to corn in U.S. swine diets
  • Ruminant Nutrition, Growth, and Management Seminar – Monday at 4:30 p.m. in Call Hall 205.  
    • Monday, April 21– Tatiana Jones– “Pine Needle Abortion in Beef Cattle”
  • Animal Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Seminar – Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. in Weber 121. 
    • Tuesday, April 22 – Mariaeugenia Gayamacaneiro  –”Agrimedical Perspectives on Body Composition Changes in Lean and Obese Ossabaw Pigs: The Impact of Sorghum Kombucha”
    • Tuesday, April 29 – Elizabeth Dressler – “Genetic Parameter Estimation of Cashmere Fiber Characteristics”

  OPEN POSITIONS:

  Professor (Assistant/Associate/Full) Position(s): 

  None at this time.

  Unclassified Staff Position(s):

  • Farm Manager/Farm Shop & Operations Manager – To apply, go to https://careers.k-state.edu/jobs/farm-manager-manhattan-kansas-united-states
  • Communications/Marketing Specialist – To apply, go to https://careers.k-state.edu/jobs/communications-marketing-specialist-manhattan-kansas-united-states-3b57273f-12e8-49d7-bffb-ae6962023002
  • Farm Manager/Purebred Beef Manager – To apply, go to https://careers.k-state.edu/jobs/farm-manager-manhattan-kansas-united-states-0a7606ec-46fb-4d8a-9e86-cc682bb71a6c

  University Support Staff Position(s):

  None at this time.

  Department Student Employment Position(s):

  https://www.asi.k-state.edu/studentsuccess/student_employment/
  If you are interested in adding a job to this page, please email Emily Grund.

  Professional Opportunities(s):

• The University of Tennessee, Precision Animal Health Faculty Position  https://apply.interfolio.com/165015
• Texas A&M University, Research Assistant – Learn more here.
• New Mexico State University, Extension Specialist/Livestock – Learn more here.
• University of Minnesota, General Livestock Manager, Animal Science – Learn more here.