Colorado State University 2010 Wool Judging National Champions

Colorado State University Wool Judging Team has captured national championship honors for 2010. The team brought home champion team banner at two major competitions – the National Western Stock Show and Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. This marks the first sweep of the two events by any major college or university since 2003 and the first ever in CSU history.

The CSU Wool Judging Team claimed the title of 2010 National Champions by winning both the National Western Stock Show, or NWSS, and Houston event.

The team includes students Barbra Davis, Jason Bowey, Lacie Hoffman, Jeff Sterkel, Megan Semler, Virginia Baker and Holly Mask. Davis, a freshman from Center, Colo. majoring in animal sciences, was undefeated, placing first in wool judging at both the NWSS and Houston event.

The team is coached by Travis Hoffman, research associate in the Department of Animal Sciences, and Heather Pierce, a CSU junior, majoring in animal sciences.

“This is an extremely talented group of young people,” said Hoffman. “They proved their dedication to being successful as they worked harder than anyone to reach their individual and team goals. I am very proud of them.”

The team is judged in several different areas all contributing to the overall individual and team scores. Scores are earned by evaluating six classes of four fleeces broken down by commercial value and breed criteria; physically grading 15 fleeces individually for fineness, yield, staple length, and character; and the presentation of oral reasons to defend their evaluations.

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