The Oklahoma State University livestock judging team garnered the title of high team overall in the senior college division at the American Royal.

However, this isn’t the first time OSU has been at the backdrop this year. The team has captured high team overall at eight contests prior to this one.

“Coming into Kansas City, we always prepare our teams for a challenge,” said Kyndal Reitzenstein, OSU assistant livestock judging coach. “The quality of livestock makes this contest especially fun.”

Reitzenstein said the team has worked “extremely hard” this season and pushed each other to get better.

“The Royal has always been a prestigious contest that presents a lot of challenge,” said Haley Stark, OSU livestock judging team member. “For us to come away with a win is exciting.”

Stark spoke of the team’s success this season and attributed it to the endless work and time each of them invests.

“I’m proud of our students for a great team win in a very challenging contest,” said Blake Bloomberg, OSU livestock judging head coach. “This is a very special group of young people.”

The team will celebrate this win, but will immediately begin preparation for the North American International Livestock Exposition.

“Although the win at the Royal is great, we have to keep our noses to the grindstone and not stop working hard,” Reitzenstein said. “The next few weeks will be the toughest and most thrilling weeks of their judging careers.”