In this episode, guest Nick Hofschulte shares his journey from growing up on a family farm in northeast Oklahoma to becoming a respected livestock judge and industry leader. Nick discusses the influence of his family, the importance of 4-H and FFA, and key moments in his judging and show pig career. He offers practical advice on building networks, balancing family and career, and the value of mentorship. Listeners gain insights into the challenges and rewards of livestock judging, as well as the importance of humility, relationships, and passion in the livestock industry.

This episode originally was released on December 23rd, 2024.

This week, we are excited to welcome into the studio Jack Ward, Executive Vice President of the American Hereford Association in Kansas City, Missouri. Jack received his Associate of Science degree from Black Hawk East College in Kewanee, Illinois and his BS degree from Purdue University. He and his wife, Mary Ann, have two sons, Cameron and Carter. Ward has judged every major show across the U.S. and in multiple foreign countries!

In this episode, host Brett Kaysen interviews Bob Kimm, a respected livestock judge and educator. Bob shares his journey from growing up on an Iowa farm and competing in FFA, to coaching successful junior college livestock judging teams and teaching at Hawkeye Community College. He discusses the evolution of livestock contests, the importance of integrity, and his philosophy of breeding functional, balanced animals. Bob’s stories highlight mentorship, perseverance, and the value of hands-on learning. The episode offers valuable insights and inspiration for current and aspiring livestock judges, educators, and industry professionals.

This episode is a re-release of episode #4 of The Sort podcast, originally released on December 2nd, 2024.

The Sort is excited to welcome Shane Bedwell into the studio this week. Mr. Bedwell is the Chief Operating Officer and Director of Breed Improvement for the American Hereford Association.

In this episode of The Sort Podcast, host Brett Kaysen sits down with guest Brandon Callis—a respected livestock judging coach—to discuss Brandon’s journey from his Texas upbringing to a successful career in livestock judging and coaching. Brandon shares insights on the value of focusing on the process over results, the importance of mentorship, and how to balance professional ambition with personal values. He emphasizes starting small, continual self-improvement, and maintaining integrity both in and out of the ring. The episode offers practical advice and inspiration for livestock judges, students, and industry professionals, highlighting the deeper purpose and lifelong impact of livestock evaluation.

This episode features two interviews previously released on the podcast with students who took part in the Top Judge program. The interview with Ashlyn O'Brien first released on February 17th, 2025 and the interview with Gunner Coburn first aired on April 21st, 2025.

Ashlyn attended Butler Community College as a member of the livestock judging team. Upon graduation, she continued her judging career at Oklahoma State University while working towards a Bachelor's degree in Animal Science. Along with being honored as an Academic All-American, she was named the High Individual Overall at the Cattlemen's Congress, San Antonio Livestock Show & Rodeo, and the National Western.

Gunner began his collegiate livestock judging career at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas. He was a part of a successful livestock judging team while studying animal science. He is currently a student at Texas A&M University, where he is finishing up a degree in animal science. While at TAMU, he was a member of the highly competitive livestock judging team. He plans to pursue a master's degree in animal science with a focus on beef cattle production.

In this episode of The Sort podcast, host Brett Kaysen talks with Tom Farrer, a renowned livestock breeder and judge from Indiana. Tom shares insights from his multi-generational family operation, his experiences in 4-H, and his journey judging at major shows nationwide. He discusses the importance of independent thinking, adapting to industry changes, and maintaining high standards in both breeding and evaluation. Tom emphasizes the value of youth development, family legacy, and staying true to one’s ideals—offering practical advice and inspiration for current and aspiring livestock judges and industry professionals.

This episode is a re-release of episode #19 of The Sort podcast, originally released on March 17th, 2025.

Today's guest on THE SORT podcast is Chris Mullinix, Instructor of Animal Sciences at Kansas State University and Co-Coach of the Meat Animal Evaluation Team. Originally from Maryland, Chris grew up on a diversified cattle and farming operation. He was a National Champion Livestock Judging Team member and had tremendous coaching success at Butler Community College and Kansas State University, coaching over 30 collegiate national contest winning teams. Adding to an already impressive resume, Chris has judged livestock exhibitions in 42 different states and Canada.