Connor Pell, is from Adair OK. He has been a part of not only the Redlands Livestock Judging Team but also the OSU Livestock Judging Team. Connor had the opportunity of being a part of the 2025 Champion Overall NAILE Livestock Judging Team. 

“My name is Connor Pell. I’m a ripe 22 years old and I am from Adair, OK, just 45 minutes northeast of Tulsa.”

Connor is from Oklahoma, where his mom’s Family has deep horse roots. Which led Connor to start Horse Judging at a very young age. Horse Judging later led him to find his passion for livestock judging. “After several years of horse judging, I decided to take up livestock judging. It’s a sport that people on both sides of my pedigree are very passionate about. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

Coming out of high school, Connor wanted to attend a school that he felt would best benefit him and for him that start was Redlands College.

“I really wanted to attend a school that I felt like I could be on a competitive team with a great coach and to me, Redlands felt like home. I had a great time in El Reno and could not speak higher of anyone in the agricultural department. Several faculty members were crucial for my development as a person-I’m very grateful for them.”

Growing up close to Stillwater, it was always Connor’s dream to be on the OSU judging team. Connor had that opportunity in 2024 when he joined the OSU Livestock Judging Team. “It’s a very prestigious honor to participate on the OSU team, as the sport means so much to the school. With that, every year comes a tremendous amount of pressure. Early on, my team and I really let that get to us.”

The team faced their fair share of struggles.  “To be completely honest, we were even blown out at a few contests. However, as we entered the fall, we all accepted that pressure as a privilege I believe that allowed us to succeed and end up being named National Champions.”

Connor and his team faced those struggles head on. As the team came out of that slump. They created an incredible memory on the green chips that will stay with Connor forever. ”Being on the champion team at the North American is hard to top!”

“Bringing the bronze bull back home, will forever be cemented as one of my favorite memories.”

During Connor’s time at Redlands Community College and now at Oklahoma State, the friends he made along the way definitely has been one of his most favorite parts.  “I’m close with a lot of very talented people who are great humans and I can’t wait to see what they do down the road.”

Connor wants to accomplish something that goes far beyond the realm of judging or even the show industry. “My goal is to do the best I can to leave the world a better place than I found it. I know a lot of things seem pretty dim, and many of us are divided on numerous topics.

However, I still believe that there is so much more for each and every person out there. Just dream big!”

“20 years from now, there’s a chance no one will remember if you won that show, that contest, or raised a hammer, but they will definitely recall if you treated them with kindness, honesty, and respect.”