As a Junior College Livestock Judging Coach, the bridge between being a mentor, teacher, and coach is a high priority. In Junior College, students make the transition of entering their journey in college, all while traveling intensely for practices, contests, and opportunities across the country. However, a Junior College Livestock Judging Coach takes pride and responsibility for guiding students in this transition, all while ensuring academic excellence and representing their college at the most competitive, national level of livestock judging. The dedication, passion, and integrity held by this coach, will always be in a league of their own. This year, Sullivan Supply is proud to recognize and applaud the Best of the Barns Junior College Livestock Judging Team Coach, Dr. Blake Bloomberg.
Dr. Blake Bloomberg is an Associate Professor and Lead Livestock Judging Coach at Black Hawk College East Campus. Dr. Bloomberg and his wife, Wravenna Bloomberg, have four children. A daughter, Breckyn, twin boys, Brenhem and Berwick, and a son Bexton. Blake originates from Berwick, Illinois. He is rooted in his family’s diversified livestock operation consisting of cattle, hogs, and row crops. Dr. Bloomberg states, “Every new set of judging kids is like a new calf crop. It brings excitement yet the challenge in managing and maximizing their potential.”
The dedication and time commitment it takes to be an industry-leading teacher, coach, and professional is a large task. Nevertheless, the support of Dr. Bloombergs wife, kids, and family motivates Dr. Bloomberg to strive for excellence in anything he endeavors. The support and faith of Dr. Bloomberg’s family is a moral he maintains as a leader at his college. Dr. Bloomberg’s teaching philosophy is to teach for success. 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.
As a professor and coach, striving to enable students to reach their full potential not only in the classroom but also on both sides of the livestock industry is a task only the most integrity-filled individual can achieve. Through any passion in life, the time for great days, and bad days, is inevitable. However, it is honorable coaches like Dr. Bloomberg that allow either day to be a learning opportunity with the greater goal of making better people. To Dr. Bloomberg, “there is no greater pressure than to know your students are counting on you to prepare them for success.”
Below are a few of Dr. Bloomberg’s many successes highlighted through his livestock coaching career.
