Submitted by Fort Scott Community College
The Fort Scott Community College Meats Judging Team won first place at the High Plains Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest held on October 30, in Friona, Texas. Additionally, the team placed second in beef grading, second in lamb judging, first in pork judging, second in beef judging, first in total beef, first in total placings and second in the total questions division.
FSCC will host a reception to celebrate the team’s success at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 17, in the Heritage Room of the FSCC Dick Hedges Administration Building, located at 2108 South Horton Street in Fort Scott.
“The team worked hard throughout the year, trying to master the process that would land them the big win. We challenged each other more than any other team I have coached—in the end, that left the students more comfortable in their situation,” said Jenilee Martin, FSCC Meats Judging Coach. “Although the national contest would be challenging, the students went in with level heads. This allowed them to calmly place the classes at hand, which ultimately put them on top. I couldn’t be more proud of the students and their successes!”
Originally from Jasper, Mo., Martin served as a member of the FSCC Meats Judging Team in 2010, which was coached by Ryan Edgecomb. Over the last seven years, FSCC has claimed four of the national championship titles and two reserve national titles.
The 2016 team includes sophomores Peyton Barrett from Winchester, Kan.; Adam Lattin from Independence, Kan.; Chad McKibben from Lamar, Mo.; and Katie Thoden from Paola, Kan. At the national contest, Thoden placed first in pork judging, first in beef judging, second in total placings, first in total questions and first place individual overall. Barrett placed second in beef grading, fifth in lamb judging, fourth in pork judging, first in total placings and fourth place overall. Lattin placed fourth in lamb judging, fifth in beef judging, third in total placings and ninth place overall. McKibben placed first in beef grading and thirteenth place overall.
Two students received All-American Team honors—Thoden was named to the first team and Barrett was named to the second team.
“The All-American Award is perhaps the most prestigious award of the year because it honors the top eight performers in the classroom and in the cooler,” said Martin.
Additionally, McKibben was selected by his peers to receive the Rachel Hamilton Memorial Spirit Award for the team. This award was established to honor a member of each team whose winning approach exemplifies Hamilton’s love of meats judging.
Throughout the season, the team also competed in five other events including the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colo.; Southwestern Stock Show in Fort Worth, Texas; Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo in Houston, Texas; Beef Empire Days in Garden City, Kan.; and The American Royal in Omaha, Neb.
For more information, please contact Martin at 620-223-2700, ext. 3540.