Koemel places at Houston meat judging
Newt Koemel, a 2016 Albany High graduate and a current alternate member of the Texas Tech Meat Judging Team, placed among the top individuals at the Houston Livestock Show competition this month.
Koemel was 13th overall high individual in the B alternate division, eighth high in overall beef, and fourth in beef judging.
“I like judging beef more than pork or lamb, and I had a good day at Houston,” said Koemel. “I appreciate being able to represent the Texas Tech meat team.”
Koemel added that he would not be where he is now had it not been for the Jim Law Memorial Scholarship he applied for and received at Albany.
“I want to thank the Jim Law family, and I credit them for any success that I am now enjoying,” he said.
The scholarship is designated for a Shackelford County graduate who plans to go to Texas Tech and major in meat science.
“I had a background with the beef cattle industry, but I had no prior experience with either meat science or meat judging,” said Koemel. “I took the required livestock and meat evaluation class and had a chance to get acquainted with the meat judging coaches. I enjoyed working with them, so I took the meat judging class last spring.”
Koemel now fully intends to make his career in the meat industry, and he plans to be on the Tech meat judging team this coming calendar year.
The Tech meat team is the only American team that was invited to the 2019 Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest in Wagga Wagga this summer, and although Koemel would like to go, he is hoping that he will have an even better offer and will have to miss the trip.
“I am interviewing for a summer internship position with HEB,” he explained. “I intend to stay at Tech for a food science degree and to get a master’s degree in meat science. After graduation, I would like to go to work for HEB full time in the meat department or with research and development, so I wouldn’t want to miss out on a chance for a summer internship with them.”
The Tech junior also placed high in beef classes at the AMSA National Western judging competition on Jan. 30.
Koemel was ninth in Beef Grading, 11th in Beef Judging, fifth in Overall Beef, and seventh in Specifications.
