JUDGE UPDATE 1 (9-27-2022): Due to unexpected scheduling, Mr. Budler will still be working out of the country and not be able to travel back to Texas in time to make this judging commitment. He will be replaced on the Futurity Judging Panel by Jodie Ging Macha (see info below). We apologize for the need for these last minute change of judges.
JUDGE UPDATE 2 (10-05-2022): Julie Pack, DVM has been called away as part of the Texas A&M Emergency Veterinary Services Team to help with the recent hurricane disaster in Florida and will not be able to be in Llano. Gary Bowdoin (see info below) has been tapped to take her place on the Futurity Judging Panel.
JUDGE UPDATE 3 (10-10-2022): Due to unexpected travel problems, Lana Hightower will not be able to be at Llano. She will be replaced by Donnie Taylor (see info below) on the Futurity Judging Panel.
JUDGE UPDATE 2 (10-05-2022): Julie Pack, DVM has been called away as part of the Texas A&M Emergency Veterinary Services Team to help with the recent hurricane disaster in Florida and will not be able to be in Llano. Gary Bowdoin (see info below) has been tapped to take her place on the Futurity Judging Panel.
JUDGE UPDATE 3 (10-10-2022): Due to unexpected travel problems, Lana Hightower will not be able to be at Llano. She will be replaced by Donnie Taylor (see info below) on the Futurity Judging Panel.
MEET THE JUDGES
RUSSELL HOOKS (Futurity & Non-Haltered Show Judge)
lives in Kirbyville, Texas on the family home place where he grew up. Russell is a fifth-generation cattleman and has been working in the cattle industry for over 42 years. He has worked as a ranch manager, herdsman, custom cattle fitter, and showman. While running his custom cattle fitting and showing service, he produced numerous area and regional Champions, as well as World and National Champions.
He currently works as a Herd Consultant, helping to build several successful breeding programs for a number of ranches over the years. He has an extensive background in bovine care and handling. Over the years he has put his background and knowledge to work managing the in-house embryo programs for several top Texas Longhorn herds.
While his primary experience has been working with Texas Longhorns, he grew up working on his family's cow-calf operation. Working alongside his father, he learned how to handle all types of cattle. Russell, and his wife, Felicia, raise and maintain a herd of longhorn cattle that are of the historic Butler bloodline. Russell travels the country judging numerous Texas Longhorn shows each year including several of the major shows in the Texas Longhorn industry. He is an approved ITLA and TLBAA judge. He has served as the Vice President and Secretary of ITLA, and has served for several years on the Breed Advisory Committee of TLBAA.
lives in Kirbyville, Texas on the family home place where he grew up. Russell is a fifth-generation cattleman and has been working in the cattle industry for over 42 years. He has worked as a ranch manager, herdsman, custom cattle fitter, and showman. While running his custom cattle fitting and showing service, he produced numerous area and regional Champions, as well as World and National Champions.
He currently works as a Herd Consultant, helping to build several successful breeding programs for a number of ranches over the years. He has an extensive background in bovine care and handling. Over the years he has put his background and knowledge to work managing the in-house embryo programs for several top Texas Longhorn herds.
While his primary experience has been working with Texas Longhorns, he grew up working on his family's cow-calf operation. Working alongside his father, he learned how to handle all types of cattle. Russell, and his wife, Felicia, raise and maintain a herd of longhorn cattle that are of the historic Butler bloodline. Russell travels the country judging numerous Texas Longhorn shows each year including several of the major shows in the Texas Longhorn industry. He is an approved ITLA and TLBAA judge. He has served as the Vice President and Secretary of ITLA, and has served for several years on the Breed Advisory Committee of TLBAA.
SARAH GALLOWAY (Futurity Judge)
grew up in Wise County, Texas. She is a fourth-generation agriculturist involved with the many different operations of her family that involve raising dairy cattle, beef cattle, livestock commissions, and forage crops. Sarah was very active with the Boyd FFA in school where she found her passion for teaching young people and agriculture.
In 2001, Sarah got her start in the longhorn business through the North Texas Longhorn Association calf donation program. She was fortunate to receive an outstanding heifer calf donated by Mr. Bob Coffee and stayed involved with showing on the youth circuit during her school years.
In 2013, Sarah obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from Tarleton State University and then started her career as an Agricultural Science Teacher and FFA Advisor. She completed a Master’s degree in Agriculture Consumer Resources in 2019. Along with her passion for Texas Longhorn cattle, she and her family raise commercial cattle and forage crops. Sarah currently judges for various rodeo and affiliate shows when she isn't busy with her teaching and student activities.
grew up in Wise County, Texas. She is a fourth-generation agriculturist involved with the many different operations of her family that involve raising dairy cattle, beef cattle, livestock commissions, and forage crops. Sarah was very active with the Boyd FFA in school where she found her passion for teaching young people and agriculture.
In 2001, Sarah got her start in the longhorn business through the North Texas Longhorn Association calf donation program. She was fortunate to receive an outstanding heifer calf donated by Mr. Bob Coffee and stayed involved with showing on the youth circuit during her school years.
In 2013, Sarah obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from Tarleton State University and then started her career as an Agricultural Science Teacher and FFA Advisor. She completed a Master’s degree in Agriculture Consumer Resources in 2019. Along with her passion for Texas Longhorn cattle, she and her family raise commercial cattle and forage crops. Sarah currently judges for various rodeo and affiliate shows when she isn't busy with her teaching and student activities.
JODIE GING MACHA (Futurity Judge)
grew up with her family raising Texas Longhorn cattle and she has been a very active, and award-winning, showman on the youth show circuit throughout her junior and senior high school years. Now enrolled at the University of Houston / Victoria, she has been certified as a judge during the last few years and is lending her cattle expertise to teaching other youth showmen (and some of the grown ups, too) more about Texas Longhorn cattle. She has judged various affiliate youth shows and futurities. Jodie is busy raising her own family at this time, but stays involved with the day-to-day aspects of her family's ranch and herd. She is also building her own small herd of straight-Butler cattle.
Jodi lives in Edna, Texas with her husband, Mark Macha, and their 15-month old son, Landon (who is proving to be full-time cowboy and Texas Longhorn lover at a very early age!)
grew up with her family raising Texas Longhorn cattle and she has been a very active, and award-winning, showman on the youth show circuit throughout her junior and senior high school years. Now enrolled at the University of Houston / Victoria, she has been certified as a judge during the last few years and is lending her cattle expertise to teaching other youth showmen (and some of the grown ups, too) more about Texas Longhorn cattle. She has judged various affiliate youth shows and futurities. Jodie is busy raising her own family at this time, but stays involved with the day-to-day aspects of her family's ranch and herd. She is also building her own small herd of straight-Butler cattle.
Jodi lives in Edna, Texas with her husband, Mark Macha, and their 15-month old son, Landon (who is proving to be full-time cowboy and Texas Longhorn lover at a very early age!)
GARY W. BOWDOIN (Futurity Judge)
is an experienced Texas Longhorn breeder and has been involved in ranching and the cattle industry for his entire life. During his college years, he was part of the National Collegiate Dairy Judging Team for Tarleton State University. Since 1983 he has been certified as a Beef Cattle and Texas Longhorn Judge having officiated at various affiliate shows around the country. He was also an Ag Instructor at Crawford High School in his early years of teaching and is a certified AI technician.
Gary is also heavily involved with the training athletes for major track and field events and is a USATF National Official and a USA Level I and II Certified Coach / Track & Field Cross-Country Specialist.
Bowdoin has served as a member of the TLBAA Board of Directors in past years and been a member of the Crawford ISD Board of Directors in his hometown of Crawford, Texas.
is an experienced Texas Longhorn breeder and has been involved in ranching and the cattle industry for his entire life. During his college years, he was part of the National Collegiate Dairy Judging Team for Tarleton State University. Since 1983 he has been certified as a Beef Cattle and Texas Longhorn Judge having officiated at various affiliate shows around the country. He was also an Ag Instructor at Crawford High School in his early years of teaching and is a certified AI technician.
Gary is also heavily involved with the training athletes for major track and field events and is a USATF National Official and a USA Level I and II Certified Coach / Track & Field Cross-Country Specialist.
Bowdoin has served as a member of the TLBAA Board of Directors in past years and been a member of the Crawford ISD Board of Directors in his hometown of Crawford, Texas.
DONNIE TAYLOR (Futurity Judge)
is a veteran herdsman and Texas Longhorn breeder. Having been in the Longhorn business for over twenty years, he has been a regular exhibitor on the show circuit and managed or worked at various shows, sales, and futurities across the country. Donnie is a Lifetime member of the TLBAA and has served as Director for that organization for several years and has been an officer with the Ark-L-Tex affiliate for many years. He was instrumental in founding the Winchester Heifer Futurity and managed that popular event for a number of years. Taylor brings a keen eye and years of experience to evaluating and sorting cattle in the showring - whether he is judging in youth shows, non-haltered events, or futurities.
is a veteran herdsman and Texas Longhorn breeder. Having been in the Longhorn business for over twenty years, he has been a regular exhibitor on the show circuit and managed or worked at various shows, sales, and futurities across the country. Donnie is a Lifetime member of the TLBAA and has served as Director for that organization for several years and has been an officer with the Ark-L-Tex affiliate for many years. He was instrumental in founding the Winchester Heifer Futurity and managed that popular event for a number of years. Taylor brings a keen eye and years of experience to evaluating and sorting cattle in the showring - whether he is judging in youth shows, non-haltered events, or futurities.