A Black Hawk College Professor was voted Best Jr. College Livestock Judging Team Coach in the Best of the Barns competition. The Best of the Barns is an annual nationwide awards program sponsored by Sullivan Supply Inc. that recognizes leading businesses and individuals in the livestock and agriculture industries, and Dr. Blake Bloomberg was voted for this award by people in the livestock industry.
People in the livestock industry voted for each category from January 1st–13th, 2024, and the winners are considered the best of the best in their respective fields. The competition received a record number of votes this year.
“As a coach, I believe it is my duty to enable each student to reach their full potential,” Dr. Bloomberg said. “As a coach, there is no greater pressure than to know your students are counting on you to prepare them for success.”
Dr. Bloomberg is an associate professor of animal science and the lead coach of the award-winning BHC Livestock Judging Team. A 2005 Black Hawk College East Campus graduate and former member of the BHC Livestock Judging Team, he returned to his alma mater in 2020 to teach and coach.
“I personally feel one of the most rewarding educational experiences in animal science is the opportunity to participate on a judging team,” he said.
“My coaching philosophy is to teach for success. I believe a good coach, in any area, understands his or her job goes full circle – from recruitment to teaching to delivering professionals. Coaching a livestock judging team is no different,” he said.