MEET THE SHOW JUDGES
ZAIDA ESPINOSA
Zaida is a former youth showman and grew up in Tomball, Texas. She began raising all breeds of livestock while in school and was an award-winning Texas Longhorn youth showman during her high-school years. After graduation, she attended Clarendon College on scholarship and was involved with judging meats and livestock during her two years there. After earning her associates degree at Clarendon, she transferred to West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas and participated with the livestock judging and meat animal evaluation teams at that university. She then earned her bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness and Economics at West Texas A&M.
It is always a great pleasure to watch one of our young people navigate their way through the years on the youth show circuit, complete their college education, and come back to stand in the showring once again, now as a judge, to help the younger kids see the true value of hard work, a strong education, proper selection of quality animals, and great showmanship skills.
Zaida is a former youth showman and grew up in Tomball, Texas. She began raising all breeds of livestock while in school and was an award-winning Texas Longhorn youth showman during her high-school years. After graduation, she attended Clarendon College on scholarship and was involved with judging meats and livestock during her two years there. After earning her associates degree at Clarendon, she transferred to West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas and participated with the livestock judging and meat animal evaluation teams at that university. She then earned her bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness and Economics at West Texas A&M.
It is always a great pleasure to watch one of our young people navigate their way through the years on the youth show circuit, complete their college education, and come back to stand in the showring once again, now as a judge, to help the younger kids see the true value of hard work, a strong education, proper selection of quality animals, and great showmanship skills.
RAELYNN STEPHENS
Raelynn has been breeding and showing Texas Longhorn cattle for the past 36 years. She has also worked as a custom fitter and is currently involved in halter-breaking animals for the showring.
She is definitely no stranger to hard work. Raelynn has served as a youth director for three years with ITLA, held three youth showmanship camps to train young showmen, and also served on the ITLA Board of Directors. She has been happily married to Stan Stephens for 47 years and they own the S Lazy R Ranch near Chalk Mountain, Texas.
Raelynn earned her college degree in Music Education and played the oboe professionally as part of the Jacksonville Florida Symphony for several years. Along with raising longhorns, she and her husband also raise and exhibit Sport Horses in the USDF. And, they are proud owners of one very spoiled greyhound.
Raelynn considers livestock judging to be a true honor and always appreciates the hard work and commitment it takes to train your animals and walk into the showring. Her favorite longhorn quote is, “Good kids show cows; great kids show Texas Longhorns!”
Raelynn has been breeding and showing Texas Longhorn cattle for the past 36 years. She has also worked as a custom fitter and is currently involved in halter-breaking animals for the showring.
She is definitely no stranger to hard work. Raelynn has served as a youth director for three years with ITLA, held three youth showmanship camps to train young showmen, and also served on the ITLA Board of Directors. She has been happily married to Stan Stephens for 47 years and they own the S Lazy R Ranch near Chalk Mountain, Texas.
Raelynn earned her college degree in Music Education and played the oboe professionally as part of the Jacksonville Florida Symphony for several years. Along with raising longhorns, she and her husband also raise and exhibit Sport Horses in the USDF. And, they are proud owners of one very spoiled greyhound.
Raelynn considers livestock judging to be a true honor and always appreciates the hard work and commitment it takes to train your animals and walk into the showring. Her favorite longhorn quote is, “Good kids show cows; great kids show Texas Longhorns!”
CONNIE OLLIVE
Connie was raised out in the country in north Texas and grew up riding horses and chasing cows. She says she saw her first Texas longhorn cows through the school bus window near Denton, and was so intrigued by their unique and majestic beauty she looked for them every day.
She married a Canadian cowboy and moved to Alberta, Canada to be near his family. They ranched, trained horses, raised crossbred cattle, and started their own family of four during those ten years in Canada. In 1984, they reutrned to Texas. Connie obtained her degree as a Registerd Nurse and went on to work in labor & delivery and the ER. She is currently a clinical instructor for nursing students.
The Ollive's became involved with Texas Longhorn cattle when her husband, Bruce, took a job as ranch manager for Mickey Wood. Later, he also served as ranch manager for Bolen Longhorns. It was during this time she learned more about evaluating longhorn cattle and their unique characteristics (learning from some of the best) and also to appreciate their contributions as beef animals. The Ollive's also started their own small herd. She admits her favorite part is during calving season when she can go out to find those colorful, little surprises out in the pasture.
Connie is a well-recognized judge having served at various shows and futurites for both ITLA and TLBAA events across multiple states. She has also shown many of their longhorns to grand and reserve champion levels in the showring, have had Horn Showcase winners, and numerous futurity winners. She looks forward to the opportunity to evaluate your cattle and your showmanship skills.
Connie was raised out in the country in north Texas and grew up riding horses and chasing cows. She says she saw her first Texas longhorn cows through the school bus window near Denton, and was so intrigued by their unique and majestic beauty she looked for them every day.
She married a Canadian cowboy and moved to Alberta, Canada to be near his family. They ranched, trained horses, raised crossbred cattle, and started their own family of four during those ten years in Canada. In 1984, they reutrned to Texas. Connie obtained her degree as a Registerd Nurse and went on to work in labor & delivery and the ER. She is currently a clinical instructor for nursing students.
The Ollive's became involved with Texas Longhorn cattle when her husband, Bruce, took a job as ranch manager for Mickey Wood. Later, he also served as ranch manager for Bolen Longhorns. It was during this time she learned more about evaluating longhorn cattle and their unique characteristics (learning from some of the best) and also to appreciate their contributions as beef animals. The Ollive's also started their own small herd. She admits her favorite part is during calving season when she can go out to find those colorful, little surprises out in the pasture.
Connie is a well-recognized judge having served at various shows and futurites for both ITLA and TLBAA events across multiple states. She has also shown many of their longhorns to grand and reserve champion levels in the showring, have had Horn Showcase winners, and numerous futurity winners. She looks forward to the opportunity to evaluate your cattle and your showmanship skills.
BRUCE OLLIVE
Bruce was born and raised in Alberta, Canada and is no stranger to the rigors of cattle ranching. He was in the saddle at an early age and heavily involved in raising cattle. His family ran a large ranch consisting of five sections of land – a working ranch where cattle were roped to be doctored and branded, and it was not uncommon to spend your entire day riding fences and checking the herds.
In 1984, he and his wife and their four children moved to East Texas. Bruce has worked in the Canadian and Texas oil fields, trained reigning and cutting horses, and can even add some fine carpentry work to his resume. During the 1990’s, Ollive managed the well-known Texas Longhorn cattle operation at Wild Wood Ranch for Mickey Wood near Lindale, Texas. And, from 2000-2020, he managed Bolen Longhorns at Lufkin, Texas. He and his wife, Connie, now live at Big Sandy, Texas and have small herd of Texas Longhorn cattle.
Bruce is very savvy in his assessment of longhorn cattle. He has served as a much sought-after judge for numerous ITLA and TLBAA shows across the country and was also co-founder of the Winchester Longhorn Heifer Futurity.
Ollive has a keen eye and a strong appreciation of the attributes of Texas Longhorn cattle, recognizing their contributions for healthy lean beef and breeding longevity. He believes show cattle should have good horn growth for their age, robust color and eye appeal, and stresses overall correctness for bulls and females of all ages.
Note: The Entry Deadline has been extended until November 2, 2024.
Bruce was born and raised in Alberta, Canada and is no stranger to the rigors of cattle ranching. He was in the saddle at an early age and heavily involved in raising cattle. His family ran a large ranch consisting of five sections of land – a working ranch where cattle were roped to be doctored and branded, and it was not uncommon to spend your entire day riding fences and checking the herds.
In 1984, he and his wife and their four children moved to East Texas. Bruce has worked in the Canadian and Texas oil fields, trained reigning and cutting horses, and can even add some fine carpentry work to his resume. During the 1990’s, Ollive managed the well-known Texas Longhorn cattle operation at Wild Wood Ranch for Mickey Wood near Lindale, Texas. And, from 2000-2020, he managed Bolen Longhorns at Lufkin, Texas. He and his wife, Connie, now live at Big Sandy, Texas and have small herd of Texas Longhorn cattle.
Bruce is very savvy in his assessment of longhorn cattle. He has served as a much sought-after judge for numerous ITLA and TLBAA shows across the country and was also co-founder of the Winchester Longhorn Heifer Futurity.
Ollive has a keen eye and a strong appreciation of the attributes of Texas Longhorn cattle, recognizing their contributions for healthy lean beef and breeding longevity. He believes show cattle should have good horn growth for their age, robust color and eye appeal, and stresses overall correctness for bulls and females of all ages.
Note: The Entry Deadline has been extended until November 2, 2024.
