Blinn livestock judging ends the season ranked No. 1 in the nation

Win at Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo propels team to top spot

March 25, 2024

The Blinn College livestock judging team saved its best for last, winning the prestigious Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo – the last contest of the season – and shooting to the top spot among community colleges in Livestockjudging.com’s national rankings.

Blinn totaled 1.526 points in the rating criteria, ahead of Redlands Community College’s 1.516 points. Teams earn points at an event based on both their placement and the event's strength.

“As coaches, we have watched this group show resilience, exert mental toughness, and perform at the highest of levels all year,” said coach Adrian Austin. “This group of competitors has been an honor to coach and we know they will always be an awesome representation of the Blinn program and all that we stand for.”

Blinn had three students among the top 10 high individuals at Houston, led by Blane Warnken’s second place. Warnken, from Schulenburg, was second in reasons, high individual in sheep/goats, second in Brahman, fourth in placings, and fifth in cattle.

Dax DeLozier was fifth high individual, placing fifth in reasons, sixth in sheep/goats, eighth in swine, and 11 ^th in cattle. Devyn Gaff was sixth high individual, placing eighth in reasons and second in sheep/goats. Kinsey Gardner was 11 ^th high individual, placing second in cattle and ninth in reasons. Steele Kenney was 13 ^th high individual.

In the alternate division, Bryson Stone was high individual, Holly Alderson was second, and Brooke Poole was fourth.

Blinn competed in 15 livestock judging contests this season, placing in the top five in each. In addition to Houston, the team placed first at the Oklahoma National Swine Registry contest, the American Royal Livestock Judging Contest, the Griswold Cattle Classic, and the Top Notch Collegiate Swine Judging Contest.

“The feeling of being blessed and honored to have the opportunity to judge for a program and a pair of coaches (Austin and fellow coach Quest Newberry) that prioritize your success and being the best version of yourself is truly something I have wanted to be a part of since I began judging at age 9,” DeLozier, a sophomore from Adair, Okla. “Choosing Blinn was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Being able to be surrounded by amazing people, the amazing work ethic, and the determination to compete at this college, is something that has made these the best two years of my life.”

Austin also said that Gaff and Gardner were among 15 students named to the 2023-24 Academic All-America Junior College national team.

Livestock judging is part of Blinn’s Agricultural Sciences Program, which has one of the most active extracurricular programs in the state, including the Agriculture Club, wildlife, agriculture mechanics, and horticulture.

Blinn offers agriculture classes on all its campuses, with the W.J. “Bill” Rankin Agricultural Complex on the Brenham Campus serving as the program’s headquarters.

For more information, visit www.blinn.edu/agricultural-sciences.