Penn State Livestock Judging Team

06/12/2026

This week, Happy Valley welcomed the Pennsylvania FFA Convention, and it was a privilege to help with the livestock contest!

A total of 139 students competed in marketing activities, keep/cull classes, and a traditional livestock judging contest. It was great to watch these students sort through classes of our university’s livestock while interacting with some members of our current team.

Congratulations to all of the individuals and chapters that found success, and thank you to everyone who spent part of their convention week with us. We enjoyed having you on campus!

05/21/2026

"Never forget where you came from..." 💭

Your background does not define your ceiling. Your work ethic does.

Some students grew up on large operations. Some came from small family farms.
Some had years of evaluation experience before college. Others walked into their first practice knowing almost nothing.

And yet, the opportunity to succeed can be the same.

Livestock judging has a funny way of teaching you that success isn’t about where you start — it’s about how willing you are to learn, work, improve, and keep showing up.

Your story matters. Your perspective matters.
And the experiences that make you different are often the very things that make you valuable.

Put in the work. Stay coachable. Help the next person up along the way.

The sky is the limit… and our very own students here at PSU are proof of that. ✨

05/18/2026

PSA: registration for the state 4-H livestock judging contest is due TODAY‼️

05/13/2026

On Sunday, we celebrated several of our team members as they graduated and stepped into exciting new opportunities! We could not be prouder of this group and all they have accomplished during their time at Penn State.

🎓 Shay Miller (2025 team) — Animal Center Assistant at the Milton Hershey School
🎓 Sydney Phipps (2025 team) — Veterinary student at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
🎓 Maddie Pimm (2025 team) — Commercial Management Trainee at ADM Nutrition
🎓 Dave Schultheis (2025 team) — Manager at Crick Bottom Shorthorns
🎓 Megan Zipprich (2025 team) — Veterinary student at Purdue University
🎓 Kat Rapp (2026 team) — Law Student at Widener University Commonwealth Law School

And we certainly couldn't forget about our December graduate, Ms. Lesko!

🎓 Sarah Lesko (2025 team) — Meat and Poultry Inspector with the Virginia Commonwealth

These students have represented our team, the College of Ag., and the industry so well, and we are excited to watch them succeed in their next chapters. We wish each of them the very best in all that lies ahead!

04/24/2026

The team competed in their 2nd contest this spring, the All-East! The 3-day contest was hosted by the University of Illinois and included Market Animal Evaluation, Breeding Animal Selection, and the traditional Livestock Judging Contest. We’re so proud of the progress these students have made over the semester and their commitment to growth!

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

🔹Avah Burke: 8th Market Swine Evaluation

🔹Alexis Casner: 10th Market Sheep Evaluation, 11th Cattle Judging, 10th Overall Livestock Judging, 10th Overall 3-Day Sheep

🔹Kelsey Dobbin: 16th Overall Livestock Judging, 19th Swine Judging, 20th Sheep/Goat Judging

🔹Kat Rapp: 9th Sheep/Goat Judging

🔹Bryce Shollenberger: 5th Breeding Sheep Selection, 8th Swine Judging

🔹Nathan Swope: 2nd Market Sheep Evaluation, 4th Breeding Swine Selection

🔹Emma Uhlman: 2nd Market Cattle Evaluation, 17th Reasons

TEAM RESULTS

5th Market Cattle Evaluation
4th Market Sheep Evaluation
5th Overall Market Animal Evaluation
4th Swine Judging
5th 3-day Combined Beef

We’re looking forward to an exciting fall season, and as always, 🦁

04/23/2026

Good kids here in Happy Valley! Congratulations to our own Megan Zipprich🦁

04/08/2026

Last night, the team traveled to Punxsutawney to visit Wise Cattle Company! We sorted classes of replacement heifers and young pigs on feed, and they were GOOD. The Wise family is a tremendous supporter of our PSU team and some of the kindest people in the industry. Their operation is rooted in functional, maternal females, while still appreciating the added “bells and whistles” of elite ones, which is an insight that’s incredibly valuable for our students to see. We’re always grateful for their livestock, perspective, and hospitality!

04/02/2026

Last week, the team traveled to Tri-View Family Farms to sort some market lambs! We appreciate the Frantz family’s continued support and their willingness to open their barn doors! Keep them in mind for your future sheep projects!

03/29/2026

Our neighbors at OSU are hosting a great contest…PA kids, look in for some more contest opportunities‼️

REMINDER‼️ REMINDER‼️ REMINDER‼️ Registration ENDS APRIL 3rd ‼️

Be sure to get those entries in. OPEN TO THE WORLD. Please help spread the word by sharing/tagging friends.

Classes this year will the BEST YET!! Haltered Cattle, Shown Sheep and Goats, Elite Hogs and Market Lambs on the Rack.

This year we will be giving out the following awards⤵️

💥Top 10 Overall Teams (Junior and Senior) Champion Teams will receive a traveling trophy as well as a banner!

💥Top 10 Overall Individuals (Junior and Senior) High Individuals in both divisions will receive a belt buckle as well as a banner!

💥Top 5 Overall Teams (Junior and Senior) Banner awards for both divisions in Reasons, Cattle, Swine, Sheep and Goats.

💥Top 5 Overall Individuals (Junior and Senior) Banner awards for both divisions in Reasons, Cattle, Swine, Sheep and Goats.

We are very excited to put this contest together for all of you!! Get your entries in! GO BUCKS!

12/16/2025

Honored to have Megan as part of such a talented team!

Rare All-American Livestock Judging honor ⭐

Congratulations to Megan Zipprich for being among the 10 recipients of the All-American Livestock Judging Award. Megan is only the second Penn Stater to be selected for this award.

The All-American program was initiated by the Livestock Judging Team Coaches’ Association and the American Society of Animal Science to recognize students who have made a commitment to livestock judging and excelled in academic performance, university and industry activities, and community service.

🔗 : https://bit.ly/3KZt5vU