Fresno State’s meat judging team returned from a hiatus to compete at the National Western Livestock Show, placing sixth in the intercollegiate contest. The team missed a top five placement in the senior division by just one point.

The team took sixth in specifications, beef grading, beef judging and total reasons, fourth in lamb judging and total placings, and fifth in overall beef and pork judging at the competition Jan. 17 in Greeley, Colo., among 73 students from 10 universities.

Crystal Waters, Fresno State meat judging coach, said members of the American Meat Science Association were pleased to see Fresno State make its first appearance in the contest since 2005.

“I am very proud of the kids on the team. They worked very hard and saw much less product than some of the bigger schools,” said Waters, a student working on a Master’s Degree in Animal Science at the university’s Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology.

Individual team members fared well, led by Colton “CJ” Brantley of Clovis, a third-year agricultural education major. Brantley placed third overall with second in specifications, fifth in lamb judging and overall beef, and eighth in reasons.

The new Fresno State team practiced at Harris Ranch Beef Co. in Selma throughout the semester and visiting Yosemite Meat Co. in Modesto and Superior Farms Lamb Packing Co. in Dixon so members could hone their judging skills.

Fresno State will compete at this year’s Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show in Fort Worth, Texas; Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, American Royal, High Plains Contest in Plainview, Texas, and International Meat Judging Contest in Dakota City, Neb.