Steers
Dr. Chris Skaggs, Texas A&M University
Dr. Chris Skaggs is professor, leader, and academic advisor in the undergraduate student advising section in the Department of Animal Science. He also holds the San Antonio Livestock Exposition Chair in Animal Science.
Skaggs received his doctorate in animal science from Iowa State University, his master’s in animal science from Kansas State University , and two bachelor’s degrees in animal science and agricultural education from Texas Tech University.
Skaggs coordinates the introductory animal science laboratories, teaches the livestock practicum and livestock and meats evaluation courses, and serves as an academic advisor in the Department of Animal Science. Skaggs also assists in recruitment efforts for the department and coordinates the livestock judging team program. He is a co-editor, with H. O. Kunkel, dean emeritus of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, of “Revolutionizing Higher Education in Agriculture: Framework, Principles and Agenda for Action,” a study of the colleges of agriculture, natural resources and life sciences in the United States.
Skaggs devotes a considerable amount of time to live animal evaluation. He has judged numerous national shows including the San Antonio Livestock Exposition steer show and he works with youth at hundreds of youth shows across the country. He serves as superintendent of the intercollegiate livestock judging contest and the steer show at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Bred & Owned Heifers / Bred & Owned Bulls / Cow-Calf Pairs
Ryan Cotton - Oklahoma City, OK
Owned Heifers
Ryan Cotton, Clarkesville, Ga., works for an Angus sale management firm, Cotton & Associates, managing sales across the country. He graduated from Oklahoma State University and after college worked as the purebred manager at Ankony Angus. He has judged Angus, Simmental and Hereford cattle at state and national shows, most notably at the North American International Livestock Exposition, Georgia National Fair, National Western Stock Show and the Illinois and Oregon State Fairs.
Dr. Scott Schaake - Kansas State University
Dr. Scott Schaake was raised on a cow-calf ranch/row crop operation near Lawrence Kansas. He graduated from Kansas State University in 1984 with a B.S. in Animal Sciences and Industry. He earned his M.S. at Clemson University and Ph.D. at the University of Kentucky, specializing in the area of Meat Science.
Currently he serves as the coach of the Livestock Judging Team. His teams have won five National Championships during his tenure as a coach at Kansas State University. Besides coaching, he is involved with teaching Beef Science, Introductory Animal Science Lab, Livestock Sales Management, Form and Function of Livestock and Principles of Livestock Selection. In addition to his teaching responsibilities he advises 30-40 undergraduate students each year. Dr. Schaake has an 80% Teaching appointment and 20% Extension appointment.
Dr. Schaake has judged livestock shows in 32 states, Canada, South America and Mexico. His personal interest includes all types of sports, hunting, fishing and attending his sons’ sporting events. His family includes wife, Kandi, and sons Shane and Shilo.
Showmanship - Pee Wee and Junior
Jerry McPeak, Warner, Oklahoma
Jerry McPeak, is a two term Representative in the Oklahoma State Legislature and former Livestock Judging coach at Connors State College. McPeak attended and graduated from Oklahoma State University. While there he was president of Collegiate 4-H, a member of Farm House fraternity and of the nationally recognized OSU Livestock Judging Team. After graduation he spent a short time in the military, then work as Agriculture 4-H Agent in Lincoln County. He then worked in the sales cooler for HyPlains Dressed Beef in Dodge City, Kansas which led to a partnership in Dodge City Feeders where he managed a backgrounding yard. While in Dodge City, Jerry volunteered to coach the livestock judging team for Dodge City Community
College and later accepted the position as livestock judging coach at Connors State College. In the early years at Connor’s Jerry returned to college obtaining a Masters in Education with emphasis in Psychology and Counseling. For 28 years, Jerry coached the Connor’s team while simultaneously founding and running the Be A Champ Show Cattle and Lamb Camps. The camp was the first of its kind and has since grown into the largest, best known and most highly respected in the country. Be A Champ has served over 12,000 students from 32 states and is still growing.
Showmanship – Junior and Senior
Kyle Perez, Nara Visa, New Mexico
Kyle was selected as the 2009 Hereford Herdsman of the Year at the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) in Denver. Perez is a third-generation Hereford breeder. He grew up participating in junior Hereford activities, including serving on the National Junior Hereford Association board of directors and winning senior showmanship in 2002. In 2004, at his final Junior National Hereford Expo, he was named the junior Herdsman of the Year. Following graduation from Kansas State University in 2005, Kyle decided to move back home to work on the ranch and continue C&M Herefords with his parents, Michael and Connie Perez. Since graduating to the adult ranks, Kyle has bred and shown numerous national champions including the 2009 NWSS reserve grand champion horned female. Kyle and his family value the show ring and the opportunities it allows them in marketing their cattle, but Kyle says what he enjoys most about the cattle business is calving season and branding time. He admits he spends just as much time horseback and roping as he does with a pair of clippers. Whether on the ranch or at a show, Kyle and his wife, Tonya, his parents and Drew, work as a team to make C&M a success.
Shane Werk, Herman, Minnesota
