J U D G I N G R E S U L T S
My livestock background consists of growing up on our family farm known as Viking Lamb. We raise show lambs, have a genetics business, and sell packaged lamb meat to many of the restaurants in and around Indianapolis. Even before I could walk, I was raised in the barn with the sheep. I have spent most of my life caring for, looking after, feeding and even getting knocked down by the sheep. Every time something happened to “knock me down” my mom and dad would always remind me to get myself up, dust myself off, and carry on stronger than before. Like my Dad’s favorite saying, it’s all about the grit, game, and hustle. Fast forward to middle school and Eastern Hancock School was having a callout to join the livestock judging team. At 3:15 P.M. that day, my brother, Hunter, and I walked into Diana Arellano’s classroom and our passion for livestock judging began. Diana, also known as Ms. A, did everything in her power to allow Hunter and I to develop and grow into the livestock judgers and people we are today. Towards the end of our high school career, it became time to decide whether (and more importantly, where) Hunter and I would continue our livestock judging journey. One of our final high school contests before the state contest was The Black Hawk East invitational. Our assistant coach, Jason O’Neal, being a Blackhawk alumnus, was extremely excited after the invitational when Hunter and I were contacted by Tim Hubbard to come visit BHE. With Covid-19 running rampant, Tim did everything in his power to get my family and I on campus and to show us the ins and outs of Blackhawk East. After a quick tour and a meeting with Tim, Hunter and I decided to continue our judging careers at Black Hawk in a little town called Kewanee, IL. Our next contest was the state contest where my high school team and I had an extremely successful day winning a trip to compete at the 2021 National 4-H contest in Louisville, KY. I competed at the National 4-H contest against 4 of my new Blackhawk East
teammates, 3 of which received All American awards. While sitting at the awards banquet after having a less than successful day myself, I proceeded to watch and cheer as my brother received the 2ndhigh individual award. I stayed seated at the table while my BHE teammates were called up for countless awards. This was definitely one of those “knock me down” moments so I reminded myself that this was a time to pick myself up, dust myself off, and use the contest as motivation to do better in the future. It was time to use that grit, game, and hustle. After a year of learning from the best in the business, Blake Bloomberg and Tim Hubbard, it was time for my sophomore judging career to begin, and after a top 10 finish at Kansas City, I began to prepare for my second go at The North American. After consulting with Tim and Blake, we decided that my focus needed to be on placing cattle. My dad also suggested I make my main goal to win Cattle at the North American, something no one would ever expect from the “sheep kid” on the team. In the following weeks I spent all my time focusing on how to better evaluate Bloomberg’s favorite species, and the night before the contest I found out that 5 classes of cattle stood between me and achieving my goal. After walking out of the reasons room and listening to the official critiques, the contestants were asked if there was anyone who managed to 50 every cattle class of the day. I was the only person to raise my hand. The next morning when my name was announced as the High Individual in cattle, and eventually High Individual overall, I had achieved my goal and my dream had come through. This was the most successful day of my livestock judging career so far, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the resilience I have been taught from a young age, or the skill and knowledge absorbed from the best coaches along the way. It doesn’t matter how many times you get knocked down in life, it only matters how quick you can pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and carry on stronger than before. It’s all about the grit, game, and hustle. ■
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