Meet the Judges: Chi & Maine Junior Nationals

Juniors showing at the 2014 Maine & Chi Junior Nationals will be evaluated by a group of elite individuals – Cody Sankey, Randy Mullinix, Jack Ward, and Scott Bush.

Cody Sankey – Maine Steers, Bulls & Fullbloods

Cody Sankey currently lives in Economy, Ind., with his wife Lindsay where they raise registered Angus and Hereford cattle. He is also an Area Sales Manager for Biozyme, Inc.

Cody received his bachelor’s degree in animal science and his master’s degree in ruminant nutrition from Oklahoma State University. While at Oklahoma State, he was a member of their 2001 National Champion Livestock Judging Team.

Prior to moving to Indiana, Cody was the manager of the Michigan State University Beef Cattle Center for eight years and livestock judging team coach for two years.

As a fifth generation cattleman, he grew up on the Sankey 6N Ranch in Council Grove, Kan. This purebred cattle operation is owned and operated by the Sankey family. His family has the second oldest Angus herd in the United States, with over 110 years in the registered Angus business.

Cody is still very involved in his family’s operation.

Randy Mullinix – Bred & Owned Maine Anjou; Owned MaineTainer

Randy Mullinix was born and raised on a diversified grain and cattle operation in Woodbine, Md.

Mullinix attended Black Hawk East and Kansas State University and graduated in 1998. He was a member of the 1997 National Champion Livestock Judging team at K-State.

Randy currently resides in Toulon, Ill., where he and wife, Jamie, have owned and operated Purple Reign Cattle Co., since 1999. Their main focus is producing elite Hereford seedstock. They have raised numerous national champions and been recognized over 30 times as premier breeder at national Hereford events.

Randy has served as a judge in 35 states including national events in multiple breeds.

Jack Ward – Bred & Owned MaineTainer; Owned Maine Anjou

Jack Ward is the Chief Operations Officer and Director of Breed Improvement for the American Hereford Association located in Kansas City, Mo.

Ward received his associate degree from Black Hawk East and his bachelors degree in Ag Economics from Purdue University.

Ward is the third generation in the purebred livestock business and his wife, Mary Ann, and two sons, Cameron and Carter, still run around 25 registered cows. Ward’s sons are very active in 4-H and junior livestock organizations.

Ward has judged livestock shows for over 25 years on the local, state and national level throughout the United States and in foreign countries.

Scott Bush – National Junior Chianina Show

Judging the 2014 Chianina Junior National Show is Mr. Scott Bush of South Dakota.

In 1992, after graduating from SDSU, Scott returned to the family farm in Britton, SD, as the fourth generation where he partners in the family business with his dad, Jim. This year Bush Angus celebrates their 86th year in the Angus Cattle Seedstock business. Registered Angus are the only cattle found on their farm. The herd has remained closed since the beginning and no outside females have been added.

Bush Angus hosts their annual bull sale the last Saturday in February. 2015 will mark the 41st annual sale.

Scott enjoys showing and judging cattle around the United States and has had the opportunity to judge in Brazil. Bush Angus has received numerous honors in the show arena, most recently 2014 Grand Champion Pen of Bulls at the National Western Stock Show.

Scott and his wife Jo live on the family farm in Britton. They have two children, Brittany and Tyler. Brittany is a sophomore at SDSU in Brookings and Tyler is a sophomore at Britton Hecla High School. Both children enjoy showing cattle and are actively involved in state and national Angus activities.

We are excited that LiveAuctions.com will be broadcasting the shows throughout the event.

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