Purdue News
Purdue News
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July 2, 1998
Purdue appoints livestock judging coachWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- In a tip of the hat to the days of Purdue University's dominance in collegiate livestock judging, the Department of Animal Sciences has hired Matt Claeys as livestock judging coach.Claeys also will serve as a beef cattle specialist with the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service. This is the first time a staff member has served as coach since 1992. "Matt will add to our great beef team at Purdue. He brings a great understanding of the beef cattle industry that is strengthened by his Midwestern roots and his training in cattle growth and development," said Jeff Armstrong head of the animal sciences department. "I believe that beef producers, students and the entire Indiana livestock industry will benefit from his expertise." Claeys began his new job July 1. Formerly an Extension animal husbandry specialist with North Carolina State University, he was responsible for coordinating 4-H livestock judging events and teaching livestock management practices to producers there. He was a scholarship student judge at the Black Hawk East Community College in Illinois and received his bachelor's degree in animal science from the University of Illinois. Claeys has a master's degree from Auburn and is finishing doctoral studies at Purdue. "As coach I have three objectives: to develop students as agricultural leaders, effective communicators and logical thinkers," Claeys said. Clint Rusk, a livestock specialist in Purdue's Department of 4-H Youth who judges a dozen national shows and state fairs a year, said: "Purdue has traditionally been a force to be reckoned with in collegiate livestock judging competitions. Matt will have the opportunity to energize the program, which in turn will help recruit outstanding students to the department." Rusk said livestock judging is the agricultural equivalent of debate societies and moot court competitions: "It's an invaluable experience for any student." He said livestock judging teams attract members from throughout the university. "Professional contacts, traveling and extracurricular experiences are additional benefits for the students," said Rusk, who coached 10 livestock judging teams at Colorado State University before coming to Purdue. Armstrong said he has heard from several Purdue animal sciences alumni who applaud the appointment. Purdue 1998 Distinguished Ag Alumnus Jill Greene of Clive, Iowa, a principal in the Meyocks & Priebe marketing communications company, said livestock judging played a crucial role in her education at Purdue. "While judging on the livestock team, I had to make a decision, write an observation and, in two minutes, convince someone else that what I had done was right and why," Greene said. "It's very similar to what I do in my job today." Armstrong said the historical purpose of livestock judging was to help improve animal breeds and meat quality. "Today the value in livestock judging is what it does to improve the student. They learn skills that will serve them for a lifetime," Armstrong said.
Compiled by Chris Sigurdson, (765) 494-8415; E-mail, sig@ecn.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
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