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Nevada grad on Fort Scott Community College championship meats judging team
Fort Scott Tribune
Fort Scott, Kan. -- Fort Scott Community College Meats Judging Team Coach Jenilee Martin said after meeting the group of students who would become the first team she ever led, she wondered what she had gotten herself into.
But she soon learned they were more than just a team -- they were a winning team -- national champions, to be exact.
She spoke about the team during a reception held Wednesday at the Danny and Willa Family Fine Arts Center, where guests could view the numerous trophies and meet the team.
During the Cargill High Plains Meat Judging Contest held Nov. 2 in Friona, Texas, the FSCC team placed first in the A Division for total placings, overall beef, and beef grading.
As she spoke about each team member, Martin said if she could give a "most improved award" to anyone on the team, it would go to Nikki Harris of Hepler, Kan.
"She's very determined," Martin said.
She described Natalie Hill of Paola, Kan., as "strong willed," as Martin said she and Hill sometimes "butted heads."
"But she is a determined young lady who will go far," Martin said.
Lane Johnson of Eureka, Kan., was described as the "team clown," who "always made us laugh," Martin said. "The team voted him the Rachel Hamilton Award, just for that reason."
James Spieth of Farlington, Kan., served as Martin's co-pilot for their many trips and she joked, "he definitely helped us get a lost a few times," even though she said the detours may not have always been completely his fault.
Ben Walker of Nevada, is the newest member of the team, joining in September, and bringing a "new sense of humor" to the group, Martin said.
She said even though everything was new to him, she tried not to turn the practice sessions into learning sessions for him. Instead, she would pull him aside to speak to him after the sessions.
"The kids stepped up and helped him, too," Martin said. "That made our team even better."
Martin, who herself is a champion meat judge, graduated from college in December. Not knowing which direction she wanted to take, she applied for several jobs, and accepted a position at FSCC as the meats judging coach, then met the kids she would begin coaching in January.
"These kids didn't say a word," Martin said. "I left thinking to myself, what in the world did I get myself into. I'm going to have some long trips in a van with nobody saying a word."
And the kids were quiet, at least during the first trip to Boot Camp in Garden City, Kan. But during the trip to their first competition in Denver, Martin said "the students opened up to me and started acting like a team."
They walked away from that first competition with second place overall, missing first place by 63 points, which Martin said she could live with. As they completed each competition, the point spread between their second place and the first place dwindled. However, their worst finish was at the Beef Empire Days in Garden City, Kan., where the team finished third.
"The lamb carcass class killed us," Martin said.
But she said when they loaded up the van on Halloween for their last trip, she knew they "had it in them" to win. During a break in the competition, she said she held a team meeting.
"I told them no matter what happened, I was proud of them," Martin said.
She said she wasn't going to do it, but during her speech, she got emotional a few times when talking about how proud she is of the team.
"It's a completely different feeling being a champion team member compared to being a coach of a champion team," Martin said. "I am so filled with joy and pride for these kids because I know they will carry that with them wherever they go."
Martin thanked the team members' parents "for raising this bunch of kids" and allowing them to travel with her. She also thanked the college faculty for working with the team's schedule, allowing the students to make up tests when necessary, and she thanked the entire college for supporting the team.
Finally, she thanked each individual team member, "for sticking with a new coach and giving me a chance by being great kids in and out of the van."
The team received a standing ovation from the crowd.
Earlier, FSCC Interim President Dick Hedges also spoke during the reception. He said the "neat" thing is that each member of the team can be considered area kids, with none coming to FSCC from very far away.
Bob Goltra had introduced the team members, announcing their individual final placings.
Hill was first in beef grading, fourth in beef judging, first in overall beef, first in pork judging, and second in questions. Hill also placed first in overall points for Division A and was named to the first team All-American Team.
Spieth was ninth in beef judging, sixth in lamb judging, sixth in overall beef, and first in total placing. Spieth was named sixth overall for the contest.
Harris was eighth in beef judging, ninth in overall beef, seventh in pork judging, fifth in total placing, and 10th in questions. Harris was 10th overall in Division A and was also named to the All-American Team.
Johnson was sixth in beef grading, 10th in lamb judging, seventh in overall beef, ninth in pork judging, and ninth in questions/reasons. Johnson was seventh overall and named to the All-American Team.
Walker, who joined the team in September, was the FSCC alternative. Walker was second among alternatives.
In addition to the contest honors, Hill was named to the First Team All-American. Johnson and Harris were named to the Second Team All-American.
All-American Team Members are chosen through evaluation of GPA and success through collegiate judging career.