SPRINGFIELD — The Lincoln Land Community College livestock judging team placed first overall at the North American International Livestock ExpositionNorth American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) in Louisville, Ky. on Nov. 19.
This marks the first time in LLCC history that the school’s livestock judging team placed first in a national contest.
Twenty-six teams from across the nation participated in the competition.
The livestock judging team comprises members of the LLCC Animal Evaluation Club. The overall team competed in beef, sheep and swine contests.
Overall, the top LLCC contestants included Jackson Johnson as fifth high individual, Dalton Heavner was ninth high individual, while Rob Johnson placed in the 19th position.
In the beef contest, the team tied for first and was second on a tie breaker.
Jackson Johnson placed as the ninth highest individual, Dalton Heavner was 11th high individual and Amy Loschen captured the 13th spot.
In the swine contest, the LLCC team placed fourth overall Jackson Johnson was a high individual and Rob Johnson placed 17th.
In the sheep competition, the team placed fourth overall. Dalton Heavner received second high individual honors.
The team finished fifth overall in oral reasons, with Jackson Johnson capturing a fourth place finish and Amy Loschen placing 10th.
“After establishing itself as a top-10 program nationally in the last four years and pushing top five status, this was a huge difference maker for Lincoln Land Community College,” said Craig Beckmier, LLCC agriculture professor and Animal Evaluation Club adviser. “As a result, this team has a shot at National Team of the Year for 2014-2015. There are two more national contests in the spring semester.”
LLCC livestock judging team members include Dalton Heavner of Pittsfield; Adam Heffelfinger of Ashland, Ohio; Jackson Johnson of Poneto, Ind.; Rob Johnson of Niantic; Amy Loschen of Kempton; Will Harsh of Radnor, Ohio; and Damon Stayton of Carlinville.
In addition, Beckmier of Morrisonville received the Fred Francis Coach of the High Team award and was also presented with the first traveling trophy for the overall champion junior college team.
The North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) is the world’s largest all-breed, purebred livestock exposition.Ten different species of livestock compete in the exposition, and the purebred beef and sheep events are the largest in the world. The NAILE is the first established national community college livestock judging contest.
