Livestock Judging Team Archives
OSU Livestock Judging Team:
A Historic Record
Welcome to the Oklahoma State University Livestock Judging Team Archive. The OSU Livestock
Judging Team has been winning awards for more than a hundred years.
On this page, you will find a record of the team from its inception to the present
day.
Click the link to explore the achievements of the OSU Livestock Judging Team in each
decade.
Oklahoma State University Livestock Judging Team
- Historical Review
- Frank Burtis introduced livestock evaluation at OSU in 1899. He requested literature from registered livestock associations because despite the variety of livestock breeds at the experiment farm, most were of poor quality and far from breed standards.
- In 1902, Burtis took his students to the American Royal Livestock Exposition at Kansas City for their first competition out of Oklahoma.
- John A. Craig, director of the station beginning in 1908 and a leading international authority on livestock, purchased Percheron draft horses from France and acquired the first purebred Dorset and Shropshire sheep imported from England. Craig developed the first criteria for livestock judging used at the turn of the century, was instrumental in establishing the International in Chicago, and led the first efforts to improve the breeding stock at OAMC.
- Warren L. Blizzard joined the OAMC faculty on Feb. 18, 1915, only to discover there were no herd bulls for the beef cattle breeds. He quickly bought 28 head of breeding stock for the experiment station. Blizzard provided a stable academic environment and attracted experienced faculty who established careers with expertise in poultry, beef, dairy, swine, sheep and horses.
- Student training and educational experiences improved dramatically. College faculty members served as livestock judges at competitions in the state, region and nation and mentored students. Quality stock judging coaches such as Blizzard and William Fowler challenged their college teams and raised expectations. The breeding program enhanced the quality of the livestock students were exposed to, college livestock won ribbons at state and regional competitions, and the results for the livestock judging team improved as well.
- But the school still lacked good facilities. The first building planned and completed under the administration of OAMC President Bradford Knapp was a new Animal Husbandry Building and Livestock Pavilion, located at the east end of Farm Road. It was part of the college’s efforts to develop an agricultural center. In the 1920s, 70 percent of Oklahoma’s population lived in rural areas. The college hoped to attract statewide gatherings of farmers, provide an arena for livestock competitions and exhibitions, and support the Animal Husbandry Department with office, laboratory and classroom space. Construction started in January 1924 and by September, the facility was completed except for utilities connections.