Location: Porter, Okla.
Business: Market news reporter and AQHA judge
Background: “I started riding when I was 5, so I’ve been around horses my whole life. Twenty years ago, when team penning and ranch sorting were new events, I was there. I competed for 15 years so my knowledge is as deep as it goes. The award I am most proud of is Reserve World Champion in Team Penning in 1995. Later, in 2007, I became an American Quarter Horse Association special events judge in those two events. Then five years ago I added another career since judging is on the weekends and I had time during the week. I became a livestock market news reporter for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture. The biggest obstacles for reporters are understanding how livestock auctions work and being able to work from beginning to end. This is not a 9 to 5 job, and I have worked for 24 hours straight more than once. The job requires computer skills with excellent knowledge of cattle because weight, sex, grade (frame size) and price need to be recorded in order to prepare a report.”
Services: “My name and certification as an American Quarter Horse Association judge for team penning and ranch sorting is listed in several sources with contact information so anyone needing a judge can find me. These sources are the U.S. Team Penning Association, the American Quarter Horse Association and the Ranch Sorting National Championship organization. The brass ring and best advertisement in the judging business is the American Quarter Horse Association World Show, which I have done seven times. The listings indicate that I have judged in that premier show so I have many repeat shows, year after year. Judging provides a good living for me and is something that I really enjoy. Livestock reporting is being part of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture. Four years ago, I worked 50 out of the 52 Mondays with the only two that I missed being the same two I miss every year because I am judging the World Final American Quarter Horse World Championship in team penning and ranch sorting. The department asked me to report on Fridays but that day conflicts with the horse judging so I declined. I am one of a group of seven who work in Oklahoma.”
Philosophy for success: “Being a successful judge requires following a set of black and white rules, and being consistent. Most important is showing no partiality in order to be fair with everyone. I always say it doesn’t matter if the Pope is riding, everyone is equal. Successful livestock reporting requires a different skill set. The days are long, but you have to pay attention all of the time and report what is there. That’s what I was hired to do, and I take no shortcuts. Needless to say accuracy, is important and has to be an automatic response based on prior knowledge of cattle. One thing that the two positions have in common is that success is based upon a focused and continuous willingness to give your best.”
