Building leaders in livestock

By Brianna Gwirtz
When Seth Ebert returned to Ohio after living out West, he couldn’t have imagined the opportunity waiting for him back home. Growing up in Jeromesville, Ohio, Ebert’s passion for livestock started early. Yet, as a high school student looking to join a collegiate livestock judging team, he faced a harsh reality: Ohio didn’t have a junior college option for livestock judging. Determined to follow his dream, Ebert chose to go to school and join the teams at Casper College in Wyoming and then Colorado State University, where he honed his skills.
After graduation, Ebert built a career managing one of the nation’s top boar stud facilities in Nebraska. Despite his professional success, something was missing. The call to return to Ohio was strong, and soon he was back in Jeromesville, raising Duroc hogs and contributing to the livestock community. Still, Ebert knew he had more to give.
Opportunity Knocks
That opportunity came when Kristina Boone, director of Ohio State ATI, located at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Wooster, reached out with a question that would alter the trajectory of his career: Would he be interested in coaching ATI’s livestock judging team?
“For a lifelong Buckeye, the chance to bring a junior college livestock judging program to Ohio was irresistible,” Ebert said. “I’ve always believed in the transformative power of livestock judging, and the opportunity to give that to Ohio youth in my home state felt like a calling.”
In 2023, Ebert accepted the position and immediately got to work recruiting Ohio students for the ATI team, hosting workshops and partnering on contests statewide.
Building Character
In livestock judging contests, participants evaluate four animals of a species, ranking them from best to worst depending on the livestock goals. Contestants then present oral reasons, which are brief, memorized justifications of their rankings. Contestants earn points for accurate placements and correct, well-presented oral reasons. In addition to learning about what makes an ideal market or breeding animal, collegiate livestock judges learn decision-making skills, public speaking skills, confidence, and character.
“I hope they learn how to impact their community and understand livestock values,” Ebert said. “The students are learning that it’s all about the team. Team effort can make some special moments.”Coach Seth Ebert
“Ohio is a unique place, in my opinion. We have many young people involved in agriculture through youth programs. My recruitment strategy focuses on students with good character and a passion for livestock,” Ebert said.
“I want team members who are genuinely good people, who are respectful, and who want to be good stockmen or stockwomen. They do not need to have judging experience before coming to ATI because I can teach them livestock judging. But I cannot teach them character, so I am looking for coachable, hardworking individuals. Together, those qualities can make some magic.”
Ebert holds his team of 12 sophomores and 17 freshmen to high standards, expecting accountability and leadership in both his practices and in the classroom.

“A big goal of the program is to build leaders,” Ebert said. Setting expectations is important, so on the first day of class, Ebert requires all the team members to introduce themselves to their teachers and sit in the front row. This level of accountability is just a tiny sliver of what Ebert hopes to teach his team.
"I hope they learn how to impact their community and understand livestock values,” Ebert said. “The students are learning that it’s all about the team. Team effort can make some special moments."
After a year of preparation, the sophomore team has been able to compete in some national competitions this fall and will continue in a few more contests this winter. So far, the highlight of the season has been a significant win at the American Royal in Kansas City in October, their first national contest of the year. The team won high overall in sheep and goats, the sixth high team in cattle, and the sixth high team overall.
Local livestock producers and alumni have been extremely supportive of the new team, opening their farms and barns up for practice. The team has also had the chance to travel the country and stop at a multiple farms and ranches, gaining exposure to livestock production across the nation.
Future Focused
Ebert is already proud of the team and recognizes the culture that is building in the program.
“The proudest moment so far as a coach was when the team asked me to cancel practice so they could go help a local cattle producer get ready for their sale. This producer had allowed us to practice earlier in the week,” Ebert said. “I told them to help the producer; I would cancel practice. I got a phone call from the producer later that day; he was so humbled, telling me that the team came and helped for 11 hours that day, and none of them would accept a dime for their efforts. The accolades and winning contests are great, but I am really proud of the caliber of students on this team.”
Looking to the future, Ebert hopes to continue a successful competitive run with his sophomores and to build good judging foundations with freshmen team members. He hopes to continue recruiting for future teams and building the culture at ATI. Most importantly, Ebert hopes that his students take the skills they are learning and use them to their advantage in future careers.
Photos by Ken Chamberlain, CFAES Marketing and Communications.