2025 Champion of Champions crowned at WSF
On Aug. 12, a sizeable crowd gathered around the Sheep Show Ring at the Wyoming State Fairgrounds in Douglas for the 2025 Champion of Champions Showcase, an elite event where grand champion livestock from each of Wyoming’s 23 county fairs compete for prestigious honors.
Although the showcase has been held annually for decades, the Wyoming State Fair (WSF) Board revamped the show in recent years to make it a standout, stand-alone event.
This year, Judge Madison Schroeder sorted through some of the best livestock the Cowboy State has to offer, crowning champions across the four major livestock species – beef, lambs, goats and hogs.
Hailing from Columbia City, Ind., Schroeder grew up showing cattle and hogs while actively competing in livestock judging.
She went on to judge at the collegiate level, first at Connors State College in Warner, Okla. where she was an integral part of the Co-Team of the Year and she was named Junior College All-American.
She then transferred to Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, earning accolades such as second overall individual at the National Western Stock Show and third overall at the North American International Livestock Exposition. She also earned recognition as an Academic All-American.
Currently, Schroeder is the head livestock judging coach at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
While in Douglas, Schroeder gave Sweetwater County’s Brystoll Gines the grand champion slap during the 2025 WSF Champion of Champions Steer Show, then honored Taven Miller of Niobrara County as the reserve champion.
The showcase’s champion lamb was shown by Garrett Burkett of Natrona County, and Brylee Styvar of Campbell County received honors with the reserve champion lamb.
In the goat show, fellow Campbell County Showman Rylee Lesher earned grand champion honors, while Shanna Stinson of Albany County was crowned reserve.
To round out the showcase, Reece West of Laramie topped the podium in the WSF Champion of Champions Hog Show, followed by Wyatt Gorzalka of Sheridan County as reserve champion.
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
