Beef Cattle Show Team Wins at Tyler Fair

COMMERCE, Texas — The hard work of Texas A&M University-Commerce’s Beef Cattle Show Team paid off big dividends recently at the East Texas Fair in Tyler.

The Hereford cattle shown by Frisco agriculture major Ginny Gatewood, Sunnyvale pre-vet major Lauren Ramsey, Lavon pre-vet major Cassie Novak, and Fort Worth pre-vet major Yessenia Pham won second, third, fourth, and sixth place awards.

On Oct. 25, the team will be at the Louisiana State Fair in Shreveport.

“This group has worked hard,” said Scott Stewart, manager of the University Farm and show team adviser. The students attended one show last spring and is competing in two shows this fall, and will compete in two shows in Spring 2009, Stewart said.

Show judges look at the eye appeal of the cattle, which includes factors like muscling, body depth, and feet and legs.

Students have the opportunity to learn about cattle at the University Farm, which owns 20 head of purebred registered Hereford cattle, 10 head of registered Angus cattle, and 100 cross bred beef cattle.

This semester five students are working on the University Farm. “The cattle are primarily for education purposes and to generate revenue for the University Farm,” according to Stewart who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at A&M-Commerce.

BEEF SHOW TEAM – The Beef Cattle Show Team at Texas A&M University-Commerce is winning awards at competitions this fall. From left are Scott Stewart, manager of the University Farm and show team adviser; Frisco agriculture major Ginny Gatewood; Sunnyvale pre-vet major Lauren Ramsey; and Fort Worth pre-vet major Yessenia Pham.