Our market judge for 2019 is Ryan Rash.
Ryan Rash is from Crockett, Texas and grew up showing every species of livestock. During his junior show career, he exhibited 13 Grand or Reserve Grand Champion Steers at major livestock shows all over the United States. He graduated from Texas A&M University where he was also a member of the National Champion Intercollegiate Livestock Judging Team. During his collegiate judging career, Ryan placed in the Top Ten Individuals of every collegiate contest he entered as well as placing in the Top Ten of Oral Reasons in every contest as well as the high points individual in 5 contests. He currently works for the Texas Junior Livestock Association and The Showbox. In addition, he owns and operates SBCC, a cattle company, and a consulting firm that has an incredible track record. He has selected all and supervised the Grand Champion or Reserve Grand Champion or Reserve Grand Champion steers for junior exhibitors at Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and Houston Livestock Shows.
He and his family have a club calf operation as well as a purebred Charolais and Hereford operation. He has judged both nationally and in every livestock species area at shows from the local level to major show level throughout 43 states, Canada, and Mexico.
Our breeding judge for 2019 is Mark Hoge
Mark Hoge is originally from Cambridge, Illinois. He grew up with a diversified livestock background showing cattle, hogs, and sheep. This stimulated his interest in livestock judging and animal science.
Upon graduation from high school, he pursued his interest in animal science and livestock judging throughout college. He attended Black Hawk East and then the University of Illinois. While at both institutions, he as very active on the livestock judging teams. From there he decided to attend Iowa State University for his master’s degree in animal breeding. While at Iowa State Mark coached the livestock judging team, advised students, and taught two classes in animal science. He found an interest in teaching and research and decided to pursue his Ph.D. in animal breeding at Michigan State, an opportunity was presented to join the staff at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois. he has been an associate professor of agriculture at WIU for 8 years. His responsibilities include: teaching 3 agriculture courses a semester, serving as the faculty manager to the swine and sheep units, coordinator of the ram and goat tests, coach of the livestock judging team, and advise the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and the Hoof and Horn club.
