Beef Judges

Breck Debnam – Open Beef Judge

Breck Debnam from Madison, GA is the current herdsman at Innisfail Farm. They are a progressive Hereford seedstock operation utilizing the latest technologies available to best blend high-quality phenotype with curve-bending genomic data. Prior to moving to GA, Breck was on the judging teams at Black Hawk East and Western Illinois University.

Weston Geppert – Junior Beef Judge

Weston was raised on a registered Angus farm, where the primary focus was on breeding exceptional cattle to cater to customers’ specific requirements. Currently residing in Highmore, South Dakota, with his wife, Britney, and their two boys, Lawton (7) and Conley (4), Weston not only manages his own registered Angus herd but also specializes in animal reproduction at Rock Creek Embryonics. Within this role, he adeptly applies advanced techniques, including in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination, to assist customers in enhancing their genetics.

Weston attended SDSU, where he completed the Animal Science program and was a member of the Livestock Judging Team. Livestock judging has always been his passion since his early years. His time on the judging team allowed him to evaluate livestock at a national level, and he received the Rodger Hunsley Scholarship in recognition of his achievements.

Weston is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the youth of North Dakota and would like to express his gratitude to everyone involved.

Grady Ruble – 4-H/FFA Beef Judge

Grady lives in Canby MN with his wife and two sons and works for Purina Animal Nutrition. During his graduate program at South Dakota State University Grady coached the 2016 and 2017 livestock judging teams where both teams featured top 5 finishes at the American Royal or the NAILE. Grady is active in his family’s seedstock operation where they primarily raise registered Angus and Simmental cattle. Every fall they host an online heifer sale marketing to junior showmen and breeders across the country.

Dairy Judges

Luke Olson – Open Dairy Judge

Luke was born and raised on a 50-cow dairy farm in Hutchinson, MN along with his parents and three sisters. The family continues their strong history of participating in and supporting several agricultural organizations such as 4-H, FFA, Holstein Association, and more. After high school, Luke attended the University of Minnesota and graduated with a degree in Animal Science. He was active in Gopher Dairy Club, dairy cattle judging, and other campus activities. His judging highlight was being a high individual at the Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest at World Dairy Expo in 2006. After graduation, he worked for Semex as a mating specialist and sales representative for 9+ years. In 2018, he joined Merck Animal Health as a territory manager, where he still works today. He is also very involved in the day-to-day operations of the family farm. The herd consists of primarily Registered Holsteins along with a few Registered Jerseys and Brown Swiss. One of his herd favorites is his 9-year-old Holstein, Wirtland Atwood Rya EX-94. Rya was fortunate enough to win Grand Champion at the 2022 MN State Holstein Show and has numerous other winnings and highlights in her show career. Another favorite is his 7-year-old Jersey, Raylore Excitation Buttercup EX-94. Buttercup recently classified 94 points and will show this summer. To top all this, Luke was engaged to his sweetheart, Sarah Fletcher of Atlanta, GA, this past December. A spring 2024 wedding is in the works. Above all, Luke keeps his faith a priority and is an active member of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Hutchinson.

Brian Coyne – 4-H/FFA Dairy Judge

Brian Coyne grew up on a Registered Holstein Farm in Wisconsin, and spent his youth showing and fitting cattle at sales and shows around the country. After graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2011, Brian worked as a herd manager for Crave Brothers Farm and Heatherstone Enterprises before being hired as a genetic consultant for Select Sires, Inc. where he spent five years working with farmers to increase the genetic potential of their herds. Currently, Brian is a Business Analyst for Select Sires Incorporated where he works with the IT department building the next generation of genetic consulting programs. Brian was a member of the 2010 National Champion Collegiate Dairy Judging team and holds the record for the highest score in the history of the National Judging Contest. In ten years judging professionally, Brian has judged more than 70 shows in ten states. Brian also assists with his family’s small herd of Holsteins and Brown Swiss.

Swine Judges

Ryan Rash – Open Swine Judge

Ryan Rash is from Crockett, Texas and grew up showing every species of livestock. During his junior show career, he exhibited 13 Grand or Reserve Grand Champion Steers at major livestock shows all over the United States. Rash graduated from Texas A&M University and was a member of the National Champion Intercollegiate Livestock Judging Team. During his collegiate judging careers, he was in the top 10 individuals and in the top 10 of Oral reasons at every contest he entered and was the high point individual at 5 contests. He is a costar of the Beyond The Ring Podcast, the Executive Director of the Beyond The Ring Junior Livestock Association and he owns and operates SBCC, a cattle company and consulting firm. He and his family have a club calf operation as well as a purebred Charolais and Hereford operation. He has judged every species of livestock at shows from the local to major show level throughout the US in 44 states, Canada and Mexico.

Adrian Austin – Junior Swine Judge

Adrian Austin is originally from Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and grew up raising and showing pigs across the country. Adrian judged collegiately for Lincoln Land Community College and Kansas State University, setting the all-time scoring record in the reasons and overall division at the National Western Stock Show in junior college. While judging for Kansas State University, Adrian won the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo contest, and found herself in the top ten overall at all but one competition she attended. She was recognized as a livestock judging All-American in 4-H, junior college, and senior college. Adrian has had the opportunity to judge shows across the country and at multiple levels, including the Ohio State Fair, the Nebraska State Fair, the South Florida State Fair, and more. She has judged in over 15 states and the list continues to grow. Most importantly, Adrian loves working with young people and giving back to programs that shaped her youth. Additionally, Adrian recently obtained her Master’s in Agriculture in Texas A&M University’s Animal Science department, and currently works at Blinn College as a livestock judging team coach and agriculture instructor. She also manages Q&A Showpigs with her significant other, Quest Newberry.

Jennifer Livermore – 4-H/FFA Swine Judge

Jennifer Livermore from Media, IL is the owner/ operator of Livermore Swine Genetics which is comprised of 30 elite sows with a special emphasis on Crossbreds.
Jennifer is a Graduate of Western Illinois University with a Bachelors of Agriculture Science. While in attendance at WIU she was a part of an extremely talented livestock judging team; capturing numerous high team finishes, under the direction of Dr. Mark Hoge.
In conjunction with Livermore Swine Genetics; Jennifer is also a Field Staff Manager for JBS Live Pork overseeing 60,000 wean to finish head spaces in Western Illinois.

Sheep Judges

Kent Spilde – Open Sheep Judge

Ryan Rash – Junior Sheep Judge

Tim Hubbard – 4-H/FFA Sheep Judge

Tim Hubbard from Charlotte, MI. Tim is a graduate of Redlands Community College and Oklahoma State University where he was a member of the livestock judging team. After graduation, Tim spent 5 years coaching collegiate livestock judging teams at Northern Oklahoma College and Black Hawk College – East Campus. As a coach Tim trained the High Team Overall at the American Royal, North American International Livestock Expo, Cattleman’s Congress, National Western, and the Fort Worth Stock Show, while being named the 2021 – 2022 Coach of the Year for Junior College Judging. Just recently Tim stepped away from coaching and now serves as a Production Supervisor for Cargill – Protein in Lake Odessa, MI. Tim has been fortunate to have judged shows across the country at all levels, and owns and operates Hubbard Club Lambs in Charlotte, MI and Ewing VA.

Goat Judges

Paul Morgan – Open Boer Goat Judge

Paul Morgan from Charlestown Indiana. He has been raising goat for 18 years and raised both commercial stock and show stock. He produced 2 Overall Grand Champion Fullblood Does at the ABGA national show. First was in 2011 and 2nd was in 2015. He and his wife Kim are 2M Boer Goats and they are actively involved with the JABGA youth and love to teach and educate anytime they can.

John Romero – Junior Goat Show Judge

John Romero is from Mulhall, OK who exhibited sheep and swine growing up. He was also actively involved with livestock judging as well. That led him on to Redlands Community College in El Reno, OK where he was also on the livestock judging team. He then transferred to Oklahoma State University where he majored in Food Science. John was a member of the 2018 National Champion livestock Judging team, in which they won numerous titles. He works at Pfeiffer Farms in Orlando where he is the Sale Barn Manager. His daily tasks keep him involved with goats, cattle, and sheep. John has been fortunate enough to have judged in 18 states. He enjoys working with young people in the show ring and spending his free time with those who share the same interests as him and looking at quality livestock.

Chevy Vaske – 4-H/FFA Boer Goat Judge

I’m Chevy Vaske from Glencoe, Kentucky where my family and I raise Boer goats and Angus cattle. I also run my own business, Unapologetically You Photography and Design. I recently graduated from Black Hawk College with All-American honors, the prestigious award for academic and competitive excellence in the field of livestock judging. This summer I am interning with the Kentucky Beef Council and will be transferring to Kansas State in the fall double majoring in Ag Communications and Horticulture. I’m excited to be here and work with the kids!

Morgan Allen – Open Dairy Goat Judge

Morgan Allen lives with her husband and two children in Southeast Minnesota on a small farm. They raise registered Oberhasli and Recorded Grade dairy goats and a few Simmental beef cattle. Morgan was born on a dairy cattle farm, but her mother always had a few milk goats when they were growing up and she just adored them. She continued her love of goats through showing in 4-H and eventually her family started improving their herd by using registered breeding stock. The first goats were registered with the Haycreek herd name in 1995. They attended their first ADGA National Show in 1998 when it was hosted in Minnesota and have been active in the dairy goat industry ever since! A big highlight was exhibiting the ADGA National Champion Oberhasli in 2018. The Haycreek herd was a licensed commercial dairy for 12 years until the retirement of the artisan cheese maker they were partnered with. Wanting to still have a use for the milk produced, Morgan started making a caramel sauce using goat milk under the name Saucy Goat Caramel. In her professional life, Morgan has always had an interest in working with dairy cattle and goats. She attended the University of Minnesota and graduated with a degree in Dairy Science and has worked in the Agriculture Industry ever since. For many years, she worked as a Ruminant Nutritionist for a regional feed company and currently works for Milk Specialties Global in the R & D, Animal Nutrition division doing Nutrition and Formulations for their Milk Replacer and Prill business.

Garrett Moorse – 4-H/FFA Dairy Goat Judge

Garrett Moorse is from Minneota, MN. Garrett works on his family’s dairy farm and feedlot where they milk 100 registered Holsteins and Jerseys and finish Holstein and beef steers. Garrett and his wife Laura also have a good-sized herd of registered Alpine, Lamancha, Nubian, Saanen, and Toggenburg Dairy Goats. The herd is on DHIA testing and participated in Linear Appraisal every year. They also attend 5-8 shows every year including the National Show when they can. Garrett is a Licensed American Dairy Goat Association Judge, and is excited to be evaluating goats at the North Dakota State Fair!

Rabbit Judges

Erik Bengtson – ARBA Judge

Cole Rupprecht – ARBA Judge

Cole Rupprecht graduated from NDSU in 2010 with a degree in Animal Science. Cole lives in the Twin Cities and works for Zoetis as an Executive Account Manager doing direct business-to-business sales in animal health covering Minnesota. Cole has a strong passion for judging animals and has judged multiple county and regional shows, has judged in over 30 states, as well as Canada, Japan, and Australia. Cole has a small herd of registered Holstein and Ayrshire cattle.

Drew Bliss – ARBA Judge

Travis Finkle – 4-H/FFA/Open Rabbit Judge

Doug King – 4-H/FFA/Open Rabbit Judge

I have been in rabbits for over 50 years, have been breeding Mini Rex for 30 years, and have developed a top-winning herd known as “King’s Mini Rex”. I have been an ARBA judge for over 25 years and have had
the privilege of judging in Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, England, and Canada. I am also very
active in the National Mini Rex Club and have been on the Board for over 2 years.
One of my greatest accomplishments showing rabbits was winning Best In Show at the 2009 ARBA
Convention. I have also won several BOB & BOSB at Conventions and Nationals, winning BOB, best fur
, and BOG at the 2019 ARBA Convention in Reno, NV.
Rabbits play a major role in my life. I’m excited to judge the North Dakota State Fair.

Poultry Judges

Jeffrey Halbach – Open Poultry Judge

Jeff Halbach, now 72, carries on the proud family tradition of exhibition poultry. He’s gratified to see his children and grandchildren following in his footsteps. Jeff is the fourth generation of Halbachs to raise exhibition chickens. At a recent Tucson poultry show, his grandchildren had three birds on champion row. With the establishment of Riverdale Farm in 1892, Jeff’s great- Grandfather Herman also founded a dynasty of poultry leaders. The Halbach family and Riverdale Farms exerted an influence on exhibition poultry and the APA for the rest of the 20th and into the 21st century.

Zeb Skow – Open Poultry Judge

Horse Judges

Patty Campbell – QH Judge

Patty Campbell and her husband Butch Campbell, own and operate Campbell Ranch horses for 25 years in Whitesboro TX. Patty is and instructor as well as exhibitor in the Ranch Classes and Trail Classes. Lessons include all the all-round events. Patty holds her AQHA card, APHA card and NSBA card.

Scott Merritt – QH Judge

Sue Kapushion – Morgan, Paint, & Appaloosa Judge

Sue is an AQHA, ApHC, APHA and NSBA accredited judge and has judged the Appaloosa Nationals three times, the Appaloosa World Championships, the Australian Nationals, German Nationals and the All American Paint Horse Congress, and the Paint Horse World Championships.

Marvin Kapushion – Morgan, Paint, & Appaloosa Judge

Marvin is an accredited AQHA, APHA, ApHC, and NSBA judge having judged such shows as the prestigious Redbud circuit in Oklahoma City, the All-American Paint Horse Congress, and the Paint Horse World Championships.

They have judged in Canada, Mexico, Italy, Switzerland, Australia, and Germany. Both Marv and Sue are members of the Professional Horseman’s Association.

Teresa Palmer-Visser – 4-H/Miniature Horse Judge

Teresa Palmer-Visser is a retired educator (2019) and a carded horse show judge (ABRA, AMHA, ASPC, ASPC, IBHA, POAC-retired and PtHA.) She had the honor of ring stewarding the AQHA World Horse Show in 2022 and judging in Columbia, South America and New Zealand this year. She enjoys exploring the Black Hills on horseback and day working on neighboring ranches. Good luck to all exhibitors at this year’s NDSF.

Pat Smith – Open/4-H Horse Judge

My love and passion for horses began when I was a child. I joined my local 4-H Horse Club and later mastered with the 4-H Horse Judging Team. This passion led me to pursue a professional judging career that has lasted 30+ years. I currently hold cards with: APHA, ApHC, ABRA, IBHA, NSBA, PtHA, and POAC. I have judged the POA International Shows, Pinto Congress, ApHC National’s, Swedish National Championship, IBHA World show, Australia Appaloosa National Championship in addition to shows in Canada, Amsterdam, and Paris. I look forward to judging your 2023, 4-H and Open Show. I wish everyone a safe and great show.

Meet our Judges!