Like any athlete, the members of Quentin Yoho’s team at Allen Community College need to be ready.
They need to practice and prepare. They need to keep their grades up. They need to know how to balance school and competition. They need to know when to step up, and when to defend themselves.
Yoho is tasked with rejuvenating the livestock judging team at ACC, after it was devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
His job also includes recruitment. Currently, he has just four members of the livestock judging team; ACC has 24 scholarships to award for the program.
It’s a new role for Yoho, after a lengthy agribusiness career and extensive history in livestock judging with his family.
YOHO grew up in Yates Center and attended Coffeyville Community College and Kansas State University.
He formerly worked for the Woodson County Co-op as a controller and grain marketer, and also managed a livestock herd.
His family, with wife Hollie and children Aidan, Emery and Quinlyn, have been involved in showing and judging livestock as a family activity.
Working at ACC is sort of a dream job, Yoho said.
“I’ve always wanted to be involved in livestock judging, and I like working with youth.”
The ACC livestock team was unable to compete the previous two years because of the pandemic, which canceled in-person events. The former coach left, and the team dwindled.
Typically, the team will travel to contests around the country between September and March. This year, ACC has just two sophomores and two freshmen enrolled in the program.
Yoho will divide his energy between working with his team and recruiting new members.
Team members typically have a background in agriculture, but it’s not required. Most also have experience in livestock judging from 4-H or FFA.
“I’m trying to find hard-working kids who have a background with livestock. They have to be able to work together as a team, and they know that school is their No. 1 priority,” he said.
His five-year plan is to turn ACC’s livestock judging team into one of the Top 10 programs in the country.
