Area students competed as part of NDSU’s Meat Judging Team at the Southeastern Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest April 15-16 at Ohio State University and the University of Kentucky.

The team placed third in beef judging and pork judging, second in specifications, fourth in total placings and in reasons. The team placed second overall, behind the University of Georgia. Other top 10 teams included Iowa State University (two teams), University of Missouri, University of Illinois (two teams), Ohio State University (two teams) and Mississippi State University.

Individually, Micayla Clarin, from Princeton, Minn., placed second in beef judging and fifth in placings; Christine Wanner, from Wishek, N.D., placed fifth in beef judging, second in pork judging, second in reasons and ninth overall; Mason Lautenschlager, from Berthold, N.D., placed third in specifications and 10th overall; and Levi Hall, also from Berthold, placed fifth in specifications.

“We are proud of this group of meat judgers. They excelled in competition with universities from across the country. It also demonstrates our department's continued support of the learning which takes place through judging programs. We look forward to their continued success in competitions next fall,” said Greg Lardy, professor and head of NDSU’s animal sciences department.

The team is coached by Robert Maddock and Nathan Hayes. Kelsey Phelps serves as an undergraduate assistant coach. Paul Berg, assisted by Andy Wirt, taught the students in the introductory meat judging class in the fall of 2010. The NDSU Meat Judging Team will compete in three or four additional contests this fall.