The Johnson County 4-H Meat Judging Team traveled to Denver, Colorado to the National Western Stock Show to compete in the annual Western National Roundup 4-H Meat Judging Contest.  The contest was held in Fort Collins, Colorado where it was hosted by Colorado State University. The Johnson County team representing Texas walked away with the National Championship honors.   Forty-two contestants representing 11 states competed in this year’s contest.  Other states placing were Kansas in second place, Indiana in third, Iowa in fourth, and New Mexico in fifth.

The Johnson County students that make up the team are: Mallorie Phelps of Grandview, Drew Cassens of Burleson, Tanner Schmidt of Grandview, and Justin Clopton of Grandview.  The team traveled to University of Wyoming in Laramie to practice on Thursday and Friday, then competed on Saturday at Colorado State University, and then traveled back to Denver for the banquet that was held on Sunday.  Coaches are Texas Tech student Loni Woolley and Leslie and Larry Woolley of Grandview.  This team was named the Texas Reserve State Champion Team in June 2010 at Texas A& M University during Texas 4-H Roundup.

The Meat Judging Contest, 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:

Class Placings: 2^nd Place Team; Tanner Schmidt– 1^st High Individual (perfect 300 score); Drew Cassens – 6^th High Individual (perfect 300 score); Mallorie Phelps – 13^th High Individual; Justin Clopton – 30^th High Individual.

Retail Cut Identification: 1^st Place Team; Tanner Schmidt – 2^nd High Individual; Mallorie Phelps – 4^th High Individual; Drew Cassens – 5^th High Individual; Justin Clopton – 7^th High Individual.

Oral Reasons: 1^st Place Team; Tanner Schmidt – 1st High Individual; Mallorie Phelps – 4th High Individual; Justin Clopton – 5^th High Individual; Drew Cassens – 23^rd High Individual.

Overall Competition: 1st Place Team; Tanner Schmidt was 1st High Individual; Mallorie Phelps was 2nd High Individual; Drew Cassens was 4th High Individual; Justin Clopton was 8^th High Individual.

This team was sponsored by Johnson County Farm Bureau; HEB; Dr. John Mehaffey DVM; Grandview Ag. Youth Booster Club; Johnson County 4-H Adult Booster Club;  Texas Exchange Bank of Crowley, Larry Woolley and Associates Real Estate, Remax Real Estate of Grandview, Grandview Tribune, Davis Auctioneers, LP, Lynn Smith Chevrolet, Wess & Helen Cassens, Curtis and Janice Cassens, Fred & Candy Bleeke, Jimmy & Angie Cassens, plus several friends and relatives.

The picture above shows the team and all who went along to coach. Left to right, Leslie Woolley, coach; Justin Clopton; Mallorie Phelps; Tanner Schmidt; Drew Cassens; and Larry Woolley, coach; and Johnson County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Zach Davis.  Not pictured is Coach Loni Woolley.  In the photo below sitting left to right is Tanner Schmidt and Drew Cassens.  The back row is Coach Leslie Woolley, Justin Clopton, and Mallorie Phelps. Not pictured is Coach Loni Woolley.