NCTA Livestock Team competes in Iowa Expo

Runnells, Iowa -- A college sophomore with the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture earned two fifth-place awards in livestock judging last week at the Iowa Beef Expo.

Emilye Vales, an agricultural education major from DeWitt, Neb., placed fifth overall individual and also was fifth in oral reasons among 126 students from 2-year colleges.

The Expo drew 22 teams from the 2-year college category. Aggies who judged were:

Eleanor Aufdenkamp, North Platte

Joe Calvo, Bassett

Wyatt Duskie, Ionia, Kansas

Dean Fleer, Pierce

Nathan Lashley, Curtis

Max Melvin, Adams

Katharine Schudel, Loup City

Sam Seberger, Lexington

Emilye Vales, DeWitt

Braden Wilke, Columbus

Overall, the NCTA teams placed 13th and 18th at the contest.

The Aggie Livestock Judging team is coached by Doug Smith, chairman of the NCTA Animal Science and Agricultural Education Division. He said the team will compete next on Feb. 25 at the Nebraska Cattlemen Classic at Kearney.

Assistant coaches are former NCTA livestock judges Bailey Hinrichs of Ayr and Wade Vallery of Plattsmouth.

Further information about NCTA livestock judging or animal science programs is available at ncta.unl.edu or 1-800-3CURTIS.