The Sort

Brady Jensen started his coaching job at South Dakota State with just four students—and no time to recruit. He built the program into a national contender, with teams reaching reserve national champion at Louisville, before leaving to return to his family’s Hereford and Angus operation in Kansas. In this conversation with Dr. Brett Kaysen, Jensen reflects on learning to judge by listening to visiting coaches at his family’s barn, coaching students who had barely judged before, and the advice he wishes he’d understood as a competitor: master the tools, then learn to control your mindset. He also shares how judging checks saved for his wife’s engagement ring—and what he hopes his legacy will be.

This episode is a re-release of episode #59 of The Sort podcast, originally released on December 22nd, 2025.

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.

In this episode of The Sort, host Dr. Brett Kaysen interviews Dr. Jason Ross, Department Head of Animal Sciences at Iowa State University. Dr. Ross shares his journey from growing up on an Iowa farm to becoming a faculty member and department head at Iowa State, with stops at Oklahoma State and the University of Missouri. He discusses his passion for swine reproductive physiology, his strong support for livestock judging programs as high-impact practices that build critical thinking and leadership skills, and the launch of an exciting new degree program focused on precision technology, business, and data analytics within animal industries.

This episode features two interviews previously released on the podcast with students who took part in the Top Judge program. The interview with Hadley Broadwater first released on June 29th, 2026 and the interview with Skyler Ward first aired on May 4th, 2026.

In this episode of The Sort podcast, host Dr. Brett Kaysen interviews Hadley Broadwater and Skyler Ward.

Hadley, from Indiana, shares her journey from showing swine and sheep to pursuing a master's degree in reproductive physiology, crediting mentorship and Iowa State's supportive community. She also emphasizes hard work, mentorship, and the invaluable experiences gained through the Top Judge Program.

Skyler, from New Paris, Ohio, discusses her livestock judging family roots, her time at Kansas State University, and upcoming graduate work in pet food nutrition. She also shares memorable experiences from the Top Judge program and offer inspiring insights on perseverance, mentorship, and career growth.

In this episode of The Sort, host Dr. Brett Kaysen sits down with Steve Gabel, a Colorado-based cattle feeder, entrepreneur, and longtime livestock judging coach. Steve shares his journey from growing up on a farm in Fort Lupton to building Magnum Feed Yards into a 36,000-head operation. He reflects on his college judging career at CSU, his 21 years coaching Weld County's 4-H judging team to nine state titles, and his commitment to hosting teams at his feed yard. Steve also candidly discusses overcoming a serious injury in 1999 and the values of integrity, hard work, and giving back that have defined his career.

This episode features two interviews previously released on the podcast with students who took part in the Top Judge program. The interview with Jack Habjan first released on May 4th, 2026 and the interview with Mason Allan first aired on May 25th, 2026.

Jack Habjan, from Linwood, Kansas, shares his journey from sports announcing dreams to pursuing ruminant nutrition at Texas Tech, with plans for graduate studies at the University of Arkansas. He also shares memorable experiences from the Top Judge program and offers inspiring insights on perseverance, mentorship, and career growth.

Mason Allan, from Schulenburg, Texas, discusses his family's Hereford operation and plans for a master's degree at Texas Tech while assistant coaching the judging team. He also highlights the Top Judge program's value and encourage young 4-H and FFA members to embrace livestock judging's opportunities.

In this episode, host Dr. Brett Kaysen interviews Kayla Rathmann from Texas Tech University's Department of Animal and Food Sciences. Kayla shares her West Texas roots, her family's deep ties to agriculture and livestock judging, and her unexpected path into academic advising. She reflects on Texas Tech's remarkable growth from 368 to 1,500 students over 20 years, crediting strong leadership, faculty, and alumni support. Kayla discusses her mentorship philosophy, evolving student demographics, and the enduring value of judging programs. She also opens up about personal hardships that shaped her resilience and faith, offering heartfelt advice for students and parents navigating agricultural education and career decisions.

This episode features two interviews previously released on the podcast with students who took part in the Top Judge program. The interview with Chyann Emerson first released on April 13th, 2026 and the interview with Jackson Tarrance first aired on April 20th, 2026.

Chyann Emmerson, from Tuttle, Oklahoma, shares how a soccer injury redirected her toward livestock judging, ultimately leading her to a national championship and internships with pork industry organizations. She reflects on teamwork, building confidence, communication skills, and the lasting relationships forged through competitive livestock judging.

Jackson Tarrance, from Welling, Oklahoma, shares his journey from showing pigs to collegiate judging, discussing mentors, career goals in agricultural lending, and plans to grow his family's show pig operation. He emphasizes judging's value in building skills, relationships, and professional networks.

In this episode of The Sort, host Dr. Brett Kaysen welcomes Jerry (J.R.) Reid—elite hog breeder, livestock evaluator, 20-year NCAA basketball referee, and Missouri State Fair superintendent. J.R. shares his family's multi-generational hog breeding legacy dating back to the 1940s, highlighting how foundational evaluation terminology remains relevant today. He draws compelling parallels between refereeing and livestock judging, emphasizing professionalism, consistency, and giving full effort at every event—large or small. J.R. also reflects on career pivots, resilience, and the work ethic instilled by his farming roots, leaving listeners with timeless advice: your word is your bond, and hard work never goes out of style.

This episode is a re-release of episode #39 of The Sort podcast, originally released on August 4th, 2025.

This week, we are excited to sit down for a conversation with a legend of the industry: Dr. John Edwards, whose 50-year career as a livestock judge included judging every major steer show in the county as well as serving as the official judge for eight national beef breed shows. He also judged cattle in eight foreign countries on four continents.