331 COMPETE IN AREA RANGE JUDGING CONTEST IN CEDAR RAPIDS

Over 320 students and nine professionals and adults representing 15 schools competed in the 2010 Area 4 Range Judging Contest Tuesday, September 21st, near Cedar Rapids. The contest was sponsored by the Lower Loup Natural Resources District and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Ord High School students finished first in the individual contest, with Johnny Ference the top contestant in the Senior Division-open to 11th and 12th graders and Taylor Hornickel number one in the Junior Division-open to 9th and 10th graders. Ag Educators competed in the professional division, which featured a first place tie between Kelly Guggenmos of Wheeler Central and Kevin Wetovick of Fullerton. The Adult Division was won by Neil Ammon of Stuart.

In the team competition, the Ord senior team of Ference, Tom Krcilek, Kris Hornickel, and Christie Schauer finished in the top spot. Another Ord team, featuring Taylor Hornickel, Dusty Staab, Dylan Miller, and Sydney Kruml, finished first in the junior division. Senior teams are made up of 11th and 12th graders while junior teams consist of sophomore and freshmen contestants.

Range judging is just one of several environmental and natural resources contests and events hosted by Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Teams representing Ord, Fullerton, Elgin, Stuart, Greeley-Wolbach, Wheeler Central, Palmer, West Boyd, St. Edward, Boone Central, Cedar Rapids, Spalding, High Plains and Columbus Lakeview participated in the event.

To view the contest results as a pdf file, click here.