John Wesley Lockhart Joins University of Arizona as Livestock Judging Team Coach

The University of Arizona’s School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences welcomes John Wesley Lockhart as its new Assistant Professor of Practice and Livestock Judging Team Coach, marking an exciting step toward revitalizing the university’s livestock judging program.

Lockhart brings with him a deep-rooted passion for agriculture and more than a decade of proven leadership in youth livestock education. Raised in West Virginia, he grew up showing and breeding club pigs at local and state shows, an early foundation that helped shape his career in agricultural sciences and education.

He earned his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from West Virginia University, followed by a Master of Arts in Leadership from Wheeling Jesuit University. Lockhart went on to spend twelve years as an Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor, serving from 2013 to 2025. His commitment to student development and excellence in agricultural education earned him national recognition, including being named a 2021 finalist for the Association of Career and Technical Education’s National Teacher of the Year.

During his teaching career, Lockhart coached six state champion 4-H and FFA Livestock and Dairy Cattle Evaluation Teams, further demonstrating his expertise in mentoring students in competitive livestock evaluation.

Now stepping into his new role at the University of Arizona, Lockhart is excited to restart the Livestock Judging Program and is eager to help students build both technical livestock evaluation skills and professional leadership abilities. His arrival is expected to energize the program and strengthen the university’s commitment to hands-on, competitive learning opportunities in animal science.