Meet our Judges
2025 Open Show - Vicki Ross
Vicki has owned and raised registered highland and highland cross cattle since 2000. She began as a junior member of AHCA and MAHA, and served on the board as director both regionally and nationally. She dispersed her herd in 2021 and she currently enjoys highlands as a spectator, but may include some in her future farming plans. She has enjoyed traveling to Denver for the National Show and Sale, as well as participating in and supporting regional shows.
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2025 Junior Show - Brad Bennett
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Brad Bennett grew up on a small purebred cow/calf operation in Weyers Cave, VA. Brad was heavily involved in 4-H and FFA growing up, showing all species, and dedicating time to livestock judging. Brad judged on a National Championship team at Butler Community College and a Reserve National Champion Team at Kansas State University, obtaining a Bachelor’s in Animal Science and Master’s in Ruminant Nutrition from KSU. Brad was on faculty and served as the Livestock Judging Coach at the University of Nebraska for 5 years, coaching many successful teams. Brad has judged at the National Western, San Antonio Stock Show, Heart of Texas Fair, and at shows in 15 states overall. He and his family live in Rickman, TN where he is a Territory Sales Manager for Performance Feeds. Brad and his wife, Maddie, stay busy showing pigs with their two kids, Easton and Emery.
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2025 Showmanship - Cole Kaufman​
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Cole Kaufman grew up in Staunton, VA showing Angus and Hereford cattle while being very active in livestock judging through 4-H and FFA, competing at many state and national contests.
He continued his livestock judging career at North Eastern Oklahoma Community College and received his Associate's degree in Animal Science. While at NEO, he competed on a very competitive team that placed in the top five at numerous national collegiate contests. Cole then attended the University of Tennessee and completed his education while majoring in Animal Science and minoring in Agriculture Business.
Cole Kaufman now resides in Livingston, TN with his wife Taylor and manages Oakley Farms where they raise Angus show cattle. They have 2 sales a year, selling show heifer prospects that will continue competing across the county at national levels. Oakley Farms has also campaigned several nationally competitive heifers over the years that Cole has been a part of their program. Cole’s favorite part about his job is helping juniors find animals to fit their goals and continue to help them with their projects through the duration of their show career.