Judging Team Revived After Two Decades, Earns National Honors
MANHATTAN, KS - After 20 years, the Kansas State University Dairy Products Judging Team competed for the first time at the 102nd Collegiate Dairy Products Evaluation Contest, delivering an outstanding performance.
Beyond the rankings, this achievement is a point of immense pride for not only the K-State dairy community but also the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry. “This achievement reflects the dedication of the students and the strength of hands-on training in dairy products evaluation at K-State,” said Dr. Ahmed Hammam, assistant professor and team coach.
The 2026 team consisted of undergraduate students Nathan Chavez, Nolan Messmore, Seb Figueroa Villanueva, and Kevin Sanford, alongside graduate student Omar Abdelsater. Guided by Hammam and assistant coach Jared Parsons, the team excelled across product categories, including milk, butter, ice cream, and cheese.
The team ranked:
- 1st in milk
- 2nd in butter
- 3rd in ice cream
- 4th in Cheddar cheese
- 5th in yogurt
- 6th in cottage cheese
For undergraduate students, three of our students ranked in the top seven overall nationally:
- Nathan Chavez - 3rd overall, ranked 5th in Cheddar and milk, 6th in butter, and 9th in ice cream
- Nolan Messmore - 6th overall, ranked 3rd in milk, ice cream, and yogurt, and 4th in butter
- Seb Figueroa Villanueva - 7th overall, ranked 6th in milk and 9th in Cheddar
- Kevin Sanford - 21st overall, ranked 8th in butter
At the graduate level, Omar Abdelsater ranked:
- 1st in ice cream
- 3rd in milk, butter, Cheddar cheese, and cottage cheese
- 4th in yogurt
- 4th overall nationally
Having three undergraduates placed among the top seven overall competitors and a graduate student finish fourth nationally speaks to both the individual dedication and the strength of the program supporting them. We are immensely proud of these individuals and excited to see the return of this team.