(September 28, 2025) Grand Island, Nebraska - After finishing third at the Prof. Lidvall in Cookeville, Tennessee last week, the men and women hit the road again this weekend for the Ak-Sar-Ben Livestock Judging Contest, sponsored by American Food Groups. 

The Bucks competed as a team in the Freshmen competition, while Kyleigh Stephenson (Elida, NM) competed as an individual in the Sophomore contest. There were 94 competitors in the contest that consisted of Cattle, Swine, Goats/Sheep, and Reasons for a total of 1,000 possible points. Stephenson finished with a score of 890 that was good enough for 52nd overall. She finished with the following scores in each species: Cattle (335 - 71st), Swine (239 - 21st), Goats/Sheep (316 - 23rd), and Reasons (344 - 56th).

The Freshmen team finished 8th Overall out of a total of 14 teams and 101 individual competitors. There were 900 possible points. Individually, Jake Sawyer (De Queen, AR) led the way with a 825 for the team. It was good enough for 23rd overall, while Kaleb Self (Susan Moore, AL) finished with a 807 to place 42nd individually. The reasons score in each species is included in the total score for each species. 

In Cattle, the Bucks finished 7th as a team. Individually, Jake Sawyer led the way with a total score of 312 to finish 37th out of a total of 350. Tierany Sloan (Exeter, MO) finished in 53rd with a 306, while Jaret Hinson (Exeter, MO) scored a 305. 

The men and women placed 8th in Swine with Sawyer leading the way with a 236, placing 18th for his highest placing on the day. Self had a 231 for 36th, while Hinson scored a 221. There were 250 possible points in the contest.

The Bucks placed 7th as a team in Sheep & Goats with Sawyer and Self both finishing with a 277 out of 300, that was good enough for 23rd and 24th. Hinson finished with a 272 to place 36th. 

For total Reasons, the freshmen finished 7th as a team. Kaleb Self talked a 270 out of 300 possible points to finish 29th. Jake Sawyer scored a 257 to place 35th, while Jaret Hinson talked a 249 that was good enough for 52nd. 

The men and women will now have the week off for classes before heading to Fayetteville next week for the Arkansas Youth Expo. 

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