**For Immediate Release**
OPSU Student Wins First At Fort Worth
-released by OPSU Campus Communications 02-09-2006

Goodwell, OK - Oklahoma Panhandle State senior Kim Gardner was the overall high individual at the Livestock Judging competition at the Southwestern International Exposition in Fort Worth, Texas on Feb. 3. The Exposition is one of the largest livestock judging competitions in the U.S. Gardner vied for the top spot against about 90 other contenders, many of them representing much larger schools. In addition, this animal science major from Artesia, N.M. placed fourth in both sheep and swine judging, eighth in horses and second in oral reasons and led the OPSU team to a sixth place finish.

Gardner, in her second year at OPSU, is accustomed to winning. While attending Hutchinson Community College, she placed in the top 10 at every competition she entered. At the Forth Worth contest, Gardner and the OPSU team competed against 12 teams, including those from Texas A&M, Kansas State, Texas Tech, Colorado State, the University of Oklahoma and the University of Arkansas. Emily Rowe also competed well for the OPSU team, placing seventh in horses.

Gardner will graduate in December and plans to attend graduate school to study animal science. Aaron Preator commends Gardner’s dedication to livestock judging. “Kim has an intense desire to achieve excellence and always strives to better herself at every practice as well as at every contest.”

The OPSU Livestock Judging Team has only three competitions left this school year. They have competed in a total of 11 competitions in 2005-2006. Next they travel to Des Moines, Iowa to compete in the Iowa Beef Expo on Monday, Feb. 13.

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