Story courtesy of Braelyn Bergman, Summerland FFA , Chapter Reporter
This fall, the Summerland FFA Chapter attended three Range Judging competitions. Range Judging is a complex competition that teaches participants how to evaluate rangeland and make informed management decisions. Participants have to identify different range plants, identify three different ecological sites and determine their similarity index, and complete a ranch map problem to determine a pasture’s stocking rate and what improvements the landowner should make to the land.
On Monday, September 8th, 22 members traveled north of Stuart for the West Holt Range Judging Competition. The senior team of Shaylie Kester, Cassie Livingston, Jenna Funk, and Ethan Kester placed 10th overall. The junior team, made up of Marlin Krysl, Ian Rittscher, Ellie Heiss, and Taylen Nilson, placed 9th, with all four members finishing in the top 50 out of 227 participants.
On Thursday, September 18th, 25 members attended the Area 5 Range Judging contest in Knox county. In the senior division Shaylie Kester received 23rd place individually, and the senior team of Shaylie Kester, Ethan Kester, Jenna Funk, and Breckyn Bergman placed 9th. In the junior division, Alvie Bearinger 26th, Marlin Krysl 27th, Braelyn Bergman 32nd, Kanyon Allemang 35th, Taylen Nilson 40th, and Sara Hemenway 46th all out of 185 participants. The team was made up of Alvie Bearinger, Marlin Krysl, Braelyn Bergman, and Kanyon Allemang placed 7th.
On Wednesday, September 24th, 10 of our members traveled to Keya Paha County to compete at the State Range Judging competition, where all members represented the chapter exceptionally well. In the senior division Jenna Funk placed 4th of 200 participants and Shaylie Kester received 42nd. Jenna Funk, Shaylie Kester, Ethan Kester, and Breckyn Bergman as a team placed 10th out of 54 teams. In the junior division Ian Rittscher placed 56th out of 252 competitors.
Congratulations to all the members who participated this year! We are now preparing for our Feed the Farmer event at CVA in Royal in October. The date for that event will be announced once corn harvest starts. We are also preparing for our District Leadership Development Events on November 19 at Osmond High School.
