I am a firm believer that your success is a direct outcome of your dedication and that is my favorite aspect of judging because the harder you work at it, the more apt you are to be successful. My name is Lexi Hunt, and I was blessed to be the Junior College High Individual at the 2023 NAILE. I am the daughter of John and Crystal Hunt and am orig- inally from Buckeye, Arizona where I grew up showing sheep and hogs. Currently, I am a sophomore at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas where I am pursuing a degree in Animal Science. I am forever grateful for the opportunities this great industry has given me and more importantly those who have helped me along the way. From a young age, I found an immense passion for the livestock industry and knew that my future would revolve around it. My involvement in 4-H and FFA led to my participation on their respective livestock judging teams. I was blessed to be coached by my dad throughout my youth career and his support and guidance laid the groundwork for my judging career and drove my love for it. I always planned on judging at the collegiate level, not only to further my judging career but also to build connections and friendships with others that shared similar interests and goals as myself. My love for the state of Texas and its communities centered around faith and fellowship led me to continue my judging career at South Plains College under the advisement of coach Connor Brew. I am be- yond grateful for the support and guidance I have received during my time at SPC and my teammates that have turned into family. Judging is far more than marking cards and giving eight sets, it is the memories made in the van, connections built along the way, and lifelong friends that I will always be the most thankful for. Livestock Judging is purely a mental game, and it is blissful to know that it is simply God and I from the minute time is in till the end of the eighth set and I owe all the glory to him. Being the High Individual at the North American was truly a dream come true and a true testament that hard work and dedication are key elements to success. I know that none of this would have been possible without the support of my family, coach, and teammates and I am forever grateful for those who have believed in me and assisted me in the pursuit of my dreams. I plan to continue my judging career through senior college and graduate with a bachelor’s degree that I will apply to a career in the small ruminant reproduction field. I am a strong advocate that this is the greatest industry to be involved in and I will continue to share my passion for livestock and livestock judging through any and every opportunity. ●
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