Alabama Teams Compete at National Western Stock Show
	
Auburn, Jan. 27, 2004 --- Two Alabama teams competed at the recent National Western Stock 
Show in Colorado.  Tuscaloosa County placed second in meats judging, just nine points behind 
the first place team.  Pickens County placed ninth in livestock judging out of a field of 24 teams.
	  
Tuscaloosa County was first in meats identification, second in placings and fifth in reasons at the 
contest held at the Colorado State University Meats Lab in Fort Collins.
	
Peter Kimbrell was fourth high individual overall in the contest and was the top competitor in 
meats identification.  Kimbrell scored 296 out of a possible 300 in identification.  
	
“I’m excited to have done so well,” said Kimbrell, who has been an Alabama 
4-H’er for nine years. 
	
Johnny Gladney, Tuscaloosa County Extension agent and team coach, said the young people’s 
hard work paid off.
	
“I am proud that their hard work brought rewards at a national level,” said Gladney.  “The team 
put a great deal of effort into preparing for the contest.”
	
Alabama teams have dominated meats judging in recent years at the National Western.  
Tuscaloosa County won the contest in 2002, and Coffee County won it in 2003.
	
Teammates Andrew Faulkner and Rebecca Morrison were fifth and 10th high individuals overall.  
Bethany Bigham was the fourth member on the team.
	
The Pickens County team was the first Alabama team to compete in the livestock judging contest 
at the National Western Stock Show.
	
“These young people did a great job as individuals and as a team representing the state,” said 
Sam Wiggins, coach and Pickens County Extension agent.   	
 	
The Pickens County team was second in beef placings, ninth in beef reasons and second in 
overall beef judging. Additionally, the team was ninth in swine reasons and tenth overall in swine 
judging. 
	
Individually, Jeremy Wiggins was sixth in beef placings, and April Latham was tenth in beef 
reasons. Rebekah Wiggins was ninth in sheep reasons and ninth in overall reasons.  
	
Rebekah placed 12th in overall out of the 94 contestants.  She is the first 4-Her from Alabama to 
judge at the National Western in both meats and livestock. In 2002, she was on the Tuscaloosa 
County meats judging team that won the contest.  She was second high individual overall.
	
Ramie Grace was the other team member and team alternate, Brooks Moss, served as 
Alabama’s roundup delegate.