Bush wins judging title

South Dakota State University’s Livestock Judging Team member Tyler Bush won the National Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest held at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky, Nov. 16. Bush achieved high individual overall and high individual in reasons, competing against students from 19 universities. In addition, the SDSU team placed third overall.

“The national contest is the longest running and most prestigious contest in all of livestock judging competitions,” said Brady Jensen, the SDSU Livestock Judging Team coach. “Our team had the most successful season in recent history and went out on a high note at the national contest.”

“To win high individual overall and high individual in reasons at the National Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest is something I can’t exactly explain,” said Bush, an animal science student from Britton. “The time, dedication and determination it took the last decade or so is unmeasurable. Winning that day was a moment of satisfaction, knowing that all the time and effort I’ve put into judging had finally paid off.”

Bush is only the third individual in SDSU history to win the national contest. The other national champions were Leon Spronk ’74 in 1974 and Gary TeStroete ’63 in 1962.