11/19/2009 7:01:00 AM SDSU meat judging team takes first in national competition
South Dakota State University’s meat judging team won first place overall at a recent national competition in Texas. The team includes, from left, assistant coach Matt Grussing, Emily Evans, Tyler Grussing, Ashley Roelfs, Drew Edleman, Amanda Stade, Matt Altman, and team coach Sarah Wells.
The South Dakota State University Meat Judging Team took first place overall at the Cargill Meat Solutions High Plains Contest in Plainview, Texas Nov. 1.
The win was a first for a SDSU team at the competition. Seventy-one students from 14 universities took part in the contest. SDSU's team placed first in reasons, pork judging, and total beef.
The meat judging team includes Emily Evans of Pipestone, Minn.; Amanda Stade of Jackson, Minn.; Drew Edleman of Willow Lake; Tyler Grussing of Chamberlain; Matt Altman of Lismore, Minn.; and Ashley Roelfs of Sanborn, Iowa.
In the individual competition, Edleman placed third high overall, and Evans finished sixth. Stade was the ninth-place overall individual scorer, and Grussing placed 15th.
In the alternates contest, Altman took eighth place, and Roelfs finished 21st.
Meats judging team coach Sarah Wells said the first-place finish is a significant achievement for the team.
"The team worked hard and has been getting better in every contest this fall, so to win a contest against some extremely tough competition will be a lifelong memory for this team," Wells said. "We'll go into the International competition knowing that a championship is possible."
The team's assistant coach is Matt Grussing, and Keith Underwood, Extension Meats Specialist, serves as the team's advisor.
