2011Bonanza Judges Dr. John Edwards was raised in Lodi, California where he was a member of 4-H and FFA. He was a member of the California State Champion Livestock Judging Team in 1958. He earned a B.S. in Animal Science from California State University-Fresno and a Ph.D from Kansas State University. After three years of teaching vocational agriculture at Santa Rosa High School and Sierra Union High School, he moved on to teach at Santa Rosa Junior College, Fresno State, Colorado State and Texas A&M. He served as the livestock judging coach at each of these institutions. After leaving Texas A&M in 1993, he served as the Executive Vice President of the North American Limousin Foundation for seven years prior to going to Express Ranches where he currently works in marketing. During a judging career that has spanned over 40 years, Dr. Edwards has judged every major show in North America as well as the national shows of virtually every breed in North America. In addition, he has judged in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Scotland, Australia, Mexico and Canada. Dr. Edwards currently resides in Llano, Texas with his wife of 48 years, Patsy. He and his wife have two daughters and four grandchildren. He is looking forward to the Belt Buckle Bonanza as he first judged it in the very early ‘80s in Abilene, Texas.
Dr. John W. Edwards Llano, TX Heifer Show, Ring A
Dan Shike, who will be judging heifers at the 2011 Belt Buckle Bonanza, lives in Sadorus, Illinois with his wife Jennifer, daughter Olivia; and son Hunter. Shike’s family owns and operates Shike Cattle Company in Western Illinois. Dan is actively involved with his father and brother in the management and marketing of the cattle. Dan received an associate’s degree from Black Hawk College – East Campus in Kewanee, Illinois. At Black Hawk, Shike was a member of the livestock judging team coached by Dan Hoge and Lee Denzer. He then transferred to Kansas State University where he received a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. At Kansas State, he was a member of the champion livestock judging team coached by Dr. Scott Schaake. Shike received his master’s degree and Ph.D in ruminant nutrition from the University of Illinois. Shike is an assistant professor at the University of Illinois and is responsible for teaching and research in beef cattle nutrition and management. Shike is in his tenth year of coaching the livestock judging team for the University of Illinois. Shike has judged shows in 20 states, including shows at the American Royal, Fort Worth Stock Show, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, National Western Stock Show and the North American International Livestock Exposition.
Mark Hoge, Macomb, IL Steer Show, Ring A
Dan Shike, Sadorus, IL Heifer Show, Ring B
Mark Hoge, is originally from Cambridge, Illinois. He grew up with a diversified livestock background showing cattle, hogs and sheep. This stimulated his interest in livestock judging and animal science. Upon graduation from high school, he pursued his interest in animal science and livestock judging throughout college. He attended Black Hawk East and then the University of Illinois. While at both institutions, he was very active on the livestock judging teams. From there he decided to attend Iowa State University for his master’s degree in animal breeding. While at Iowa State, Mark coached the livestock judging team, advised students, as well as taught two classes in animal science. He found an interest in teaching and research and decided to pursue his Ph.D in animal breeding at Michigan State University. While completing his Ph.D at Michigan State, an opportunity was presented to join the staff at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois. He has been an associate professor of agriculture at WIU for eight years. His responsibilities include: teaching three agriculture courses per semester, serving as the faculty manager to the swine and sheep units, coordinator of the ram and goat tests, coach the livestock judging team, and advise the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and the Hoof and Horn Club. Mark is thankful to have a very supportive family that consists of his wife, Katie, and their sons, Carter and Nolan, who are six and three-years-old, respectively.
62 july 2011 | THE SHOWBOX