Averie Bain is an all-around college student — an athlete, student government leader and a national champion in meat judging — all while maintaining a perfect grade-point average. A meat judging novice when she enrolled at Eastern Oklahoma State College (EOSC), Wilburton, in 2024, Bain was recruited to join the meat judging team during her freshman year.
The Chickasaw citizen is finishing her last semester at EOSC as a National Division Intercollegiate First Team All-American in meat judging, a title only four students earned in the United States. The award, presented by the American Meat Science Association, recognizes Bain’s outstanding performance in overall competition as well as her grade-point average.
Deciding to join the meat judging team about two months after the rest of the team, Bain had to quickly study to learn the skill.
“I started working, and then I just ended up being kind of good at it, I guess,” Bain humbly said.
There is much more to meat judging than meets the eye. Students at EOSC compete in meat judging against teams from across the country, sometimes from much larger institutions, as well as international teams, in locations from Garden City, Kansas, to Denver, Colorado.
During these competitions, students don hard hats, safety glasses and butcher frocks to evaluate meat carcasses and cuts of beef, pork and lamb for qualities such as marbling and other factors influencing taste.
“You choose and place them on their quality and consumer appeal, how much they will sell for and what is going to be the best for the consumers,” Bain explained.
Participants rank cuts and answer questions about their choices.
Growing up in Valliant, Oklahoma, Bain is an experienced livestock exhibitor, having participated in swine projects as a member of 4-H and later the National FFA Organization. But meat judging was a brand-new concept until a friend told Bain the college team needed more students. Intrigued, Bain met with EOSC’s meat judging coach, Jade Edwards, and decided to join the team.
“I just was like, ‘Well, I did all this stuff in high school; I might as well have more stuff to do in college and stay active,’” she said. Joining the meat judging team added to Bain’s already crowded schedule. In addition to her college studies, Bain is involved in several campus activities and academic clubs, as well as church events. She serves in leadership positions in most of her extracurricular activities.
“I am the student government president and the vice president of our Aggie Club. I am the secretary of the math and science club and a member of our presidential leadership class. And in my spare time, I work in the [college] president's office as a work-study aide,” she said.
Bain is also a member of the EOSC Mountaineer cheer squad and has a 4.0 grade-point average.
“I've always just stayed busy, and I have always set goals for myself. Then, if I achieve a goal, I just want to get another one and stay motivated to keep doing things.”
Chickasaw support
Support from the Chickasaw Nation in the form of higher education scholarships and grants enables Bain to enjoy the college experience to the fullest and relieves the financial burden from her family.
Reflecting on her childhood, the 20-year-old said the Chickasaw Nation’s support has helped her in every phase of life, from Little League to livestock projects, as well as academics.
“The Chickasaw Nation helped me all throughout and not just in college. They have helped even when I was in elementary and dance. They helped pay for my dance costumes and with Little League ball fees.”
Bain began her studies at EOSC with a double major in pre-veterinary medicine and life science but switched to nursing her last semester.
In the fall, when she transfers to Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, she plans to pursue a nursing degree with the goal of becoming a nurse practitioner.
A recent tour of the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center in Ada encouraged her.
“I toured the hospital and talked to quite a few people working there [about the] opportunities. It was nice,” she said, adding the staff made her feel welcome and included. Working for the Chickasaw Nation someday would be a way she could give back to her tribe for all she has been given, she said.
Family ties
Bain said she receives her Chickasaw heritage from her mother, Stacey (Walker) Bain, who she lists as one of her role models.
“She’s always motivated me and been so supportive of me, and she is just such a kind person.”
Another role model is Ella Wanda (El Wanda) Elliott, her late great-grandmother on her mother’s side of the family. Elliott lived in Wright City, Oklahoma, where her husband, Chickasaw Jimmy Elliott, worked in the logging industry common in southeastern Oklahoma.
When Jimmy broke his leg and could not drive the logging truck, which helped support the family, El Wanda quickly learned how to drive the logging truck in his place. She also drove a pulpwood truck and a school bus, planted and inspected trees, and ran a successful restaurant in Wright City for several years, according to her obituary.
“She stepped up and learned how to take care of her family,” Bain said. Bain’s father is Bradley Bain. She has one brother, Baler Bain.