A Magnet for Livestock Judging is a tiny Jr. college satellite north of El Reno
EL RENO, Okla. (KFOR) — The prairie north of El Reno might seem a lonely spot for a college powerhouse.
But for years now, the old Darlington Indian Agency turned satellite campus for Redlands Community College has been the spot for learning how to be a good judge of livestock.
When judging team Coach Spencer Scotten took over 5 years ago, Redlands already had an established program.
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From August until April, 3 times per week, his team practices looking at goats, sheep, hogs, and cattle.
“I grew up on a ranch in Southwest Missouri,” Scotten says.
He recruits on a national scale.
“The students on our team represent 22 different states.”
Livestock judging requires quick decisions and the ability to explain why you made those decisions. Coach Scotten’s Cougar team earned “Junior College Team of the Year,” nationally.
Scottens himself won “Coach of the Year,” backing an ambitious and deep squad.
He insists, “This has been my strongest team as far as depth from 1 to 15 that I have ever been part of.”
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All-American Chyann Emerson got into livestock judging seriously when she tore up her knee playing soccer. Judging fed that need to compete, and gave her skills she might need later.
Competitions, she argues, “teach us how to communicate, like I’m speaking with you right now, and how to make quick decisions.”
Another All-American, Blake Jannsen grew up in Amber, Oklahoma and chose Redlands by reputation.
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He got better, he says, by listening to his coach, and by mimicking what he liked in other good livestock judges.
“I like a judge who is honest, to the point, likes what they like, and knows the reasoning behind what they value in an animal.”
The trophy case at the Darlington campus is crowded already with awards from shows all over the U.S.
They can add one more for the Spring of ’24, Team of the Year from way out here.
For more information on Redlands Community College and their programs visit here.
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