Saturday, May 2nd | Arbuckle, CA

Lee grew up in Shelbyville, Illinois, on a diversified grain and livestock operation. He attended Lake Land College and the University of Illinois, where he was a member of both schools’ nationally competitive livestock judging teams. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education, Lee went on to complete his master’s at California State University, Chico.

Before returning to the family farm, Lee spent 10 years teaching within the department of Animal Sciences at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and most recently at the University of Illinois, where he also coached the intercollegiate livestock judging teams at both institutions.

Today, Lee is the Co-Owner of Rincker Livestock, which primarily focuses on crossbred show pigs. He also co-manages his family’s Angus operation; Can Am Cattle Company. 

Lee has judged numerous national, state, and regional livestock shows, as well as internationally at the Calgary Stampede in Alberta, Canada.

Craig Benoit is from Cabery, IL and grew up raising and showing cattle.  He attended Joliet Junior College and the University of Illinois where he competed on the livestock judging teams at both institutions while also earning a degree in Agriculture Business.  He currently is the manager at Hummel Livestock where they run a 400 head show goat operation where they focus on raising state and nationally competitive show goats for 4-H and FFA families across the country as well as operate an Angus cattle operation.  He enjoys interacting with exhibitors while judging shows and assisting show families with their projects.