FFA Members Compete in Range JudgingÂ
By Kinley Hilkemann
FFA members tested their rangeland knowledge by identifying 24 plants, evaluating the health of ecological sites, determining the type of ecological site, calculating appropriate stocking rates, and answering 10 written questions at the area 5 range judging contest held in rural Pierce county.
The junior team of Lakin Prince, Eleanor Bauermeister, Blaine Weich, and McKaylin Passyka placed second overall. Prince also earned second place individually, while Weich placed eighth, Bauermeister placed 14th, and Passyka placed 31st.
The senior team of Kaelyn Halsey, Taylor Sonnenfelt, Kate Anderson, and Lillian Stern placed seventh overall.
“Identifying the different plants was the most challenging part of the competition,” both Prince and Weich said.
All FFA members are able to compete in range judging. When asked if he would recommend range judging to other FFA members, Lakin Prince said, “If you're ready for a challenge, yeah, I recommend it.”
Weich enjoyed “the ranch map”
A ranch map shows different sections of rangeland and uses that information to make decisions about land management and stocking rates.
The Knox County Farm Bureau, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Nebraska Extension, and the Nebraska Section of the Society for Range Management were contest sponsors.
