A legacy of leaders
The 2023 judging team members stand in front of Culzean Castle in Scotland on the International Dairy Judging Tour.
For decades, the Ohio State ATI Dairy Judging Team has been more than just a competitive team; it’s a launchpad for students to develop critical thinking skills, build lifelong friendships, and gain invaluable industry experience. While dairy judging is often associated with evaluating cows based on conformation and pedigree, the real lessons happen beyond the scorecard. Students learn to analyze data, confidently defend their decisions to a judge, and navigate high-pressure situations — all skills that translate far beyond the contest.
Building a team from scratch
At the heart of the program is coach Royce Thornton, an assistant professor and the Animal Sciences and Technologies Division chair at the Ohio State ATI Wooster campus of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). When Thornton began his career at ATI in 1983, he was most excited to work with students and combine his love of education with his passion for dairy cattle. Thornton, originally raised on a dairy farm in Idaho, moved to Ohio after receiving a bachelor’s in dairy science from California Polytechnical Institute and a master’s in dairy cattle genetics from Pennsylvania State University. Thornton had participated in and was successful in many dairy judging contests through FFA and collegiate teams.
The 2016 dairy judging team at the World Dairy Expo. From the left: Assistant coach Don Hange, Hope Hazelton, Adam Miley, Elizabeth Bertzler, Hannah Dye, Zach Berry, Levi Plocher, John Polcer, and coach Royce Thornton.“Within my first two years of teaching, students requested a dairy judging team. There was not one before I started, and students had caught wind that I used to judge competitively. I said yes, and for all the years since, I have coached the team. It has never been an official part of my job description, but I do it because the students want to do it. Now it’s a tradition,” Thornton shared.
When the team began, contests were limited for junior and two-year colleges such as ATI. Thornton volunteered his time on several committees to get more competitions started for the smaller colleges. In 1989, the World Dairy Expo hosted its first postsecondary college contest, thanks partly to Thornton’s leadership in the dairy industry. Dairy judging at ATI quickly gained momentum. What started as a small, student-driven effort evolved into a respected program that has stood the test of time.
The ATI Dairy Judging Team at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, WI, in 2024. From the left: Thornton, Bradley Gotto, Christian Martig, Lauren Homan, Emma Givens, and Don Hange, assistant coach.Within the last forty years, many ATI dairy judging teams have placed in the Top 5 at highly competitive contests, like the World Dairy Expo, the Pennsylvania All-American Dairy Show, and the North American International Livestock Exposition. Since 2010, seven Ohio State ATI dairy judging teams have qualified to represent the United States at the Royal Highland Show in Scotland by scoring well at the World Dairy Expo. The 2015 team won the entire World Dairy Expo contest, and many others, like the 2021 and 2022 teams, have placed in the Top 3.
"I tell students, we will enjoy it and have fun. We are also going to be competitive. You need to work hard enough to be competitive," Thornton said. "It's not just about winning; the bigger goal is for students to learn and have great experiences."
Lasting impacts
For many students, their time on the ATI Dairy Judging Team has shaped their college experience and future careers.
Megan Raudebaugh, right, and teammates (from the left) Rebecca Sprang, Marissa Topp, and Rachel Sherman, at an Irish dairy farm during the 2022 International Dairy Cattle Judging Tour. Megan Raudabaugh, now a second-year student at Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, was part of the 2021 ATI judging team. She credits the experience with helping her develop confidence, especially in public speaking.
"I could talk all day about how my experience on the judging team has bettered my college experience. I have struggled with public speaking my whole life," Raudabaugh shared. "Giving oral reasons requires you to not only talk alone in front of someone who is actively judging your ability but also to be confident in the information you are presenting. By the end of my time at ATI and on the judging team, I had become so much more confident in my speaking ability. When it came time to interview for vet school, arguably the most important interview of my life, I was not even nervous."
Despite not having a dairy background, Raudabaugh was determined to be on a judging team.
Lauren Homan, second from the left, and team at the NAILE Judging Contest. Lauren was the contest winner and Brady Grotto, center, won 4th place in individual standings. "I went in with the mindset that I wanted to be competitive and win," she said. "With hard work and a little bit of luck, I placed as high individual at my first dairy judging contest ever. There would go on to be highs and lows in future contests, but this was a memory that I will never forget."
A current ATI Dairy Cattle Production and Management student, Lauren Homan has also thrived in dairy judging. One of her proudest moments came when she won high individual overall at the North American International Livestock Exposition, a testament to her dedication and hard work.
"I would tell a prospective ATI student thinking about joining the dairy judging team to just do it," Homan shared. "It will take a lot of time and effort, but you will see your work pay off and make so many new friends. It is worth all of the work that goes into it."
A tradition of excellence
Today, the Ohio State ATI Dairy Judging Team builds on a rich tradition of excellence, student success, and industry impact. Under Thornton's leadership, the program has not only produced winning teams but also developed students into confident, skilled professionals in the agricultural industry.
For students willing to put in the work, the dairy judging team offers more than just trophies. It provides unforgettable experiences, lifelong skills, and friendships that last far beyond their time at ATI.
The 2024 Ohio State ATI Dairy Judging Team visits the famous Mil-R-Mor, a registered Holstein dairy farm in Orangeville, IL., to practice on their way to Madison, WI, for the World Dairy Expo.All images courtesy of Royce Thornton, Ohio State ATI.
