2017 Badger Kick-off Classic
Market Animal Show Judge: Lukas Ziegler, Maryland
Lukas Ziegler was raised in New Windsor, Maryland on a commercial Angus/Simmental Solution cow-calf operation. Lukas and his family have raised show cattle and club lambs for over 15 years. Lukas was a member of the Maryland State Champion 4-H and FFA teams and was a member of the 2nd High Team at the National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest in Louisville, Kentucky.
Lukas attended Texas Tech University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Leadership. During his time at Texas Tech, he was a member of a Co-National Champion Wool Judging team in 2012. He also had sucess on other judging teams such as the 2013 Meats Judging Team and 2015 National Champion Livestock Judging team. At National Livestock Contests, he was the Top 5 Individual at Louisville and Top 10 Finishes at Houston, Aksarben, Flint Hills, and Kansas City.
Today, he serves as the assistant livestock judging coach at Clarendon College in Clarendon, TX. He is still active in show cattle industry by raising show cattle with his family and trading all species of livestock around the country. In his spare time, Lukas volunteers at his local 4-H and FFA organizations by helping junior exhibitors with their cattle and sheep projects along with assisting with the coaching their youth livestock judging teams.
Lukas’ judging philosophy is “I’m not here to change the industry, just bring me you good ones, I’ll do the rest.”
Breeding Show Judge: Matt Kleski, Ohio
Matt is originally from Uhrichsville, located in Eastern Ohio and grew up on a seedstock and club calf operation of Maine-Anjou and Hereford cattle. Matt actively exhibited both breeding heifers and market steers throughout the country.
He is a graduate of The Ohio State University; holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science and Ag Business. He is also a graduate of West Virginia University with a Master’s Degree in Agriculture and Environmental Education.
Previously Matt was employed by the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association and the Ohio Beef Council where he coordinated the Ohio Beef Expo Junior Steer and Heifer Show and oversaw the OCA Junior BEST program (Ohio’s junior points show circuit).
Currently, Matt works with the USDA, Farm Service Agency, in the Ohio State FSA Office in Columbus, Ohio. He works as the Chief Program Specialist of the Production Adjustment, Compliance and Risk Management Section, overseeing farm and disaster programs and works with payment limitation issues. He also oversees government online programs and a variety of livestock programs for the Agency.
Matt has served as an advisor for the Ohio Junior Maine-Anjou Association and has coordinated the National Junior Maine-Anjou Show. Currently, Matt serves as a member of the Ohio Beef Expo Junior Steer & Heifer Show Committee.
Matt was a member of the Ohio State University Livestock Judging Team and has judged numerous county fairs, state fairs and beef expo’s as well as numerous showmanship contests across the United States for the past 16 years. Matt, his wife Amy and their son Parker currently reside in New Albany, Ohio.
Let’s give these two judges a warm Wisconsin welcome!