MEET THE SHOW JUDGES
LANA HIGHTOWER is one of the most-recognized judges on the Texas Longhorn show circuit. She was born and raised in Iowa on a beef and dairy farm and has remained involved with cattle raising for all her life. She and her late husband, Dr. Gene Hightower, started raising and showing Texas Longhorn cattle in 1994. She is currently certified to judge for both ITLA and TLBAA and has judged longhorn cattle at various shows across Texas plus 12 other states.
Hightower has also been honored to be selected as a judge for the TLBAA World Show, the ITLA Championship Show, the Millennium Futurity, the Legacy Futurity, the Winchester Futurity, the Texas Gold Futurity, and has served as a presenter for a world-wide ITLA Webinar presentation on judging and breed characteristics.
When asked about her personal approach to selecting top cattle, she indicates, “I always look for those traits that make up the ‘complete package,’ and look for the animal that will ensure success in reproduction for the Texas Longhorn industry. Longhorns are a unique beef breed of cattle with added value in their horns, color, and longevity. I want an animal to be structurally correct and balanced from front to back, with sturdiness and the ability to move freely.”
Hightower has also been honored to be selected as a judge for the TLBAA World Show, the ITLA Championship Show, the Millennium Futurity, the Legacy Futurity, the Winchester Futurity, the Texas Gold Futurity, and has served as a presenter for a world-wide ITLA Webinar presentation on judging and breed characteristics.
When asked about her personal approach to selecting top cattle, she indicates, “I always look for those traits that make up the ‘complete package,’ and look for the animal that will ensure success in reproduction for the Texas Longhorn industry. Longhorns are a unique beef breed of cattle with added value in their horns, color, and longevity. I want an animal to be structurally correct and balanced from front to back, with sturdiness and the ability to move freely.”
DAVID WARS is another highly experienced and sought-after judge for the Texas Longhorn show circuit. He lives in Groveton Texas and started his adventure with longhorn cattle in 1984. He and his wife, Bracy, operate W5 Texas Longhorns and are concentrating on the breeding of historically correct cattle with twisty horns.
David has spent his entire life around the cattle industry because his family was always involved in agriculture. He had four years’ experience of livestock judging while in high school, then went on to study animal science in college at Stephen F. Austin State University, which also included three years of livestock judging.
Wars is currently serving his third term on the TLBAA Board of Directors and on the Executive Committee as the Parliamentarian. In addition, he is heavily involved with the Breed Standards Committee and also serves as a member of the Hall of Fame Committee. He and Bracy are members of the Ark-La-Tex TLBAA Affiliate and the Cattlemen’s Texas Longhorn Registry.
David stresses this fact, “We can improve the breeding without changing the breed. It is vitally important to preserve those unique physical traits that give the Texas Longhorn its identity as a distinct breed of cattle.”
David has spent his entire life around the cattle industry because his family was always involved in agriculture. He had four years’ experience of livestock judging while in high school, then went on to study animal science in college at Stephen F. Austin State University, which also included three years of livestock judging.
Wars is currently serving his third term on the TLBAA Board of Directors and on the Executive Committee as the Parliamentarian. In addition, he is heavily involved with the Breed Standards Committee and also serves as a member of the Hall of Fame Committee. He and Bracy are members of the Ark-La-Tex TLBAA Affiliate and the Cattlemen’s Texas Longhorn Registry.
David stresses this fact, “We can improve the breeding without changing the breed. It is vitally important to preserve those unique physical traits that give the Texas Longhorn its identity as a distinct breed of cattle.”
Both of our judges slated for the Friday and Saturday shows are highly skilled at offering educational critiques of the animals they sort through in the ring. This is always beneficial for the young showmen exhibiting and the ranchers and breeders alike. Here's a great opportunity to watch and listen to the judging comments so you, too, can improve your skills when selecting the best heifers, buills, and steers.
