Penn State Livestock Team Wins at KILE for Second Straight Year

Penn State's Livestock Judging team captured first place in the collegiate judging contest at the Keystone International Livestock Exposition (KILE) in Harrisburg on Saturday, marking the second time in as many years they have taken the honor. The team placed first in sheep, and second in swine and oral reasons. They were the high team in beef cattle for the third year in a row.

Team members are Nichole Fogleman, senior from Lock Haven; Kyle Grim, senior from East Berlin; Russell Larson, senior from East Berlin; Debbie McAllister, senior from Centre Hall; and Amber Shollenberger, junior from Mohrsville.

Dr. Terry Etherton, Head of the Department of Dairy and Animal Science, said, "I extend sincere congratulations to the members of the Livestock Judging Team for this outstanding achievement. Their strong showing is a tribute to their dedication and commitment to excelling."

The consistency of the team paid off, with all team members excelling in multiple categories. Fogleman was high individual overall in the contest, and was fourth in cattle and reasons, fifth in sheep and seventh in swine. Shollenberger was second high individual overall and placed fourth in sheep, fifth in cattle and tenth in swine.

McAllister placed fifth overall, second in swine, seventh in reasons and eighth in cattle; Grim was tenth overall and sixth in cattle; and, Larson was high individual in sheep and sixth in reasons..

Wendall Landis, assistant beef cattle manager at Penn State, coaches the team.

At KILE, the team judged 12 classes, including five cattle, four swine and three sheep, and gave eight sets of oral reasons. Other teams competing were the University of Illinois, Ohio State University, University of Tennessee, Middle Tennessee State University and West Virginia University.

The team placed third in the Eastern National Livestock Collegiate Judging Contest in Timonium, and will compete at the Premier Stockman's contest in Frankfort, IN; the American Royal Livestock Exposition, Kansas City, MO; and the national intercollegiate livestock judging contest at the North American Livestock Exhibition, Louisville, KY.