The Department of Animal Science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has recruited Bradley Bennett, a recent Kansas State master's graduate, to be its new livestock judging team coach.
Bennett grew up in Weyers Cave, Va., on a purebred Shorthorn and Simmental operation. He participated on the National Champion Junior Livestock Judging Team in 2008-2009 at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kan., where he received his associate's degree in agribusiness.
He transferred to Kansas State University and completed his bachelor's degree in animal science, competing on the Reserve National Champion Sr. College Livestock Judging Team in 2010. He finished his master's degree in ruminant nutrition in July of this year.
Throughout the school year, the Livestock Judging Team will travel more than 20,000 miles competing at major contests across the country, interacting with prominent livestock producers and evaluating some of the most elite livestock available.
Bennett looks forward to interacting with people from Nebraska and helping youth grow. He said that participating on a livestock judging team helps students develop skills needed to succeed in their chosen career paths.
"Livestock judging offers some really great life tools," Bennett said.