That ultimately got me interested in this sport to begin with. We both went to the same colleges, had the same interests, and talk on the phone daily to chat about life or livestock. I know I’m the younger brother, but I’m extremely proud of what he has accomplished and look up to the person he is and how he carries himself as a true professional in our industry. Spence may not want me to tell this story, but I’d like to share it as encouragement to those who have come up short and felt like doing something else - it certainly helped me when I felt defeated. Spencer’s second team he took to Houston finished dead last in the contest. Now, he has won it two years in a row, with plenty of wins in between. It would have been easy to feel embarrassed, give up, and quit, but he didn’t. He has shown me that keeping your head down and working hard will always pay off in the end. WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND IN THE INDUSTRY? species livestock operation that primarily focuses on show cattle and goats. At one point or another, we have raised all species of I grew up in Nevada, Missouri, on a multi- livestock, and currently have cattle, goats, and sheep. My dad, Shannon, grew up in the livestock auction business, and after they sold the sale barn, he transitioned into raising show cattle in the late 90s. All my brother and I have ever known is the stock
and having pressure on you as a young age is what builds you into the person you are. No pressure = no expectations. I would tell myself to be thankful to have moments that made you uncomfortable or that put pressure on you. If you have that from a young age, regardless the situations you face as an adult the moment rarely gets to big for you. Most importantly, I’d tell him how important the people around him will be. My family and friends you meet along the way will shape your life far beyond anything you accomplish individually. I’ve been fortunate to end up in a place surrounded by the best people, doing something I truly enjoy everyday thanks to my family supporting me and pushing me out of my comfort zone. HOW HAS YOUR BROTHER INFLUENCED YOU OVER THE YEARS? Spencer and my dad are my heroes. If I told you all of the stories my brother and I have experienced together, you probably wouldn’t believe most of them. We have always done everything together, and I’ve been proud to be by his side through it all. From an early age, I have always wanted to do what my older brother did, which ultimately led to what I am doing as a career today. Spence started judging at our county contest through our Vernon County 4-H program, and as a younger brother, I obviously wanted to follow in his footsteps.
It’s funny the things you think about as you reflect on a moment like that. We’ve come a long way from digging worms and fishing in the summertime, or leading sheep down the road only to chase them back on foot. That day, I felt a deep sense of accomplishment and pride in who we are and what we believe in. We worked hard, did things the right way, and supported one another every step of the way even when times were tough. The excitement we shared after both teams were announced is a feeling I won’t soon forget. WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUR 8-YEAR-OLD SELF ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE TODAY? I think I’d tell him to enjoy the process and not be in such a hurry to grow up. At that age, all I cared about was being around livestock, competing, and trying to be as competitive as possible. Looking back, those were some of the most important years in shaping who I am today and the best memories that I hold. I’d probably also tell him that the long days, early mornings, and setbacks are going to pay off. There will be moments where things don’t go your way and times when you question whether it’s all worth it, but those experiences are what build you. The lessons learned through hard work, discipline, and perseverance end up meaning more than any win ever could. The most important lesson I ever learned is that being in uncomfortable situations
show industry, and we are fortunate to know the majority of people in it and proud to call many of them really good friends. At a young age, both Spence and I were actively involved in our family’s operation as well as 4-H and FFA, where we showed all species. We have spent a lot of late nights and early mornings helping Dad AI cows and pull calves, and frankly, those are some of my favorite memories. I’m really fortunate to have the best parents in the world, who have sacrificed a lot for my brother and me to do what we do. Mom and Dad take care of all of the livestock back home without any help and stay very busy. This is an industry that we all love and make a living in as a family. TELL US ABOUT YOUR TEAM AND JUDGING PROGRAM I’m very prideful of the program here at Texas Tech and even prouder of the students who are members of the 2026 team. The judging program here has more support from fellow faculty, staff, and alumni than anywhere I have experienced. I often tell the judgers how lucky we all are to be a part of a program like this with the level of support we receive. The program here is founded on students like the ones we currently have; hardworking, gritty, and all-around good kids. We will never have the biggest team, but personally, I see a lot of benefit in a smaller group of around 10, where
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