<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4bzcyR_0wCi9wSZ00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4bzcyR_0wCi9wSZ00" width="1131" height="848" ><figcaption>Students evaluate the condition of a Deep Sand ecological site south of Yuma, Colo. Courtesy photo FFA2</figcaption></figure>High school agriculture students from across southeast Colorado competed in the FFA State Range Judging and Plant Identification event held on Oct. 9 at the Yuma County fairgrounds. This youth educational event was hosted by the Lone Star and Yuma FFA Chapters. Saralynn Vetter, agriculture teacher at Lone Star High School, and Kristina Lebsock, agriculture teacher in Yuma, coordinated the event. The Burlington, Yuma County, Yuma and Flagler Conservation Districts together with Pawnee Buttes Seeds, Yuma County Cattlemen and Cattlewomen, Colorado State University, Farm House Market and Helena AgriEnterprises provided the funding to support this educational youth event. The Colorado Section of the Society for Range Management provided individual awards as part of their youth activities program. The Colorado State Land Board, Colorado Department of Ag, and local Natural Resources Conservation Service provided staff assistance. The generous support of these sponsors is greatly appreciated.This rangeland educational youth event involved 264 agriculture students representing 28 FFA chapters in eastern Colorado. The advanced team results were Flagler- First-place Gold; Lone Star- Gold, and La Junta- Silver, Stratton- Silver, Rye- Bronze, and Idalia- Bronze. Beginning team winners were Lone Star- Gold; Merino- Silver; and Stratton- Bronze. Weston Morgan, McClave FFA, was recognized as the high individual score for combined site judging and plant identification. Owen Glenn, Lone Star FFA, had the high score on plant identification.During the competition students were required to identify 50 range plant specimens and two ecological sites. During the plant identification test students had 1 minute to identify the plant. At the ecological sites, students had to complete a rangeland inventory to determine the rangeland condition of the site, and evaluate the condition of the soil surface. Judging the ecological site also tested the students plant identification skills. Following lunch guest speakers and local ranchers Ryan Noble and Tyson Brown gave inspirational presentations about their ranching history and innovative grazing management. Reece Melton and Michelle Nelson with the Colorado Department of Agriculture gave interesting presentations about soil health and regenerative agriculture. Don Thorn, CSU College of Agriculture, talked about the importance of ag education through FFA involvement. The students gained special knowledge about proper rangeland management practices to sustain ecosystem goods and services provided by healthy rangelands.The Range Judging Contest is one of many FFA Career Development Events agriculture students can participate in to test their skills and knowledge learned through their agricultural education classes. Through the Range Judging Contest students gain skills on plant identification and reading the landscape to determine the ecological site, amount of usable forage, and number of animals that can be properly supported on the rangeland.Thank you to all the FFA advisers, local businesses, conservation districts, Colorado State Land Board, Colorado Department of Ag, NRCS, Pawnee Buttes Seeds, and the Colorado Section SRM for helping make this event a success for all the participating high school agriculture students in eastern Colorado.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2OCCOw_0wCi9wSZ00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2OCCOw_0wCi9wSZ00" width="1600" height="1200" ><figcaption>The plant identification exam tested the students ability to correctly identify 50 range plants and their important characteristics. Courtesy photo</figcaption></figure></div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Eastern Colorado ag students compete in FFA State Range Judging Event

High school agriculture students from across southeast Colorado competed in the FFA State Range Judging and Plant Identification event held on Oct. 9 at the Yuma County fairgrounds. This youth educational event was hosted by the Lone Star and Yuma FFA Chapters. Saralynn Vetter, agriculture teacher at Lone Star High School, and Kristina Lebsock, agriculture teacher in Yuma, coordinated the event. The Burlington, Yuma County, Yuma and Flagler Conservation Districts together with Pawnee Buttes Seeds, Yuma County Cattlemen and Cattlewomen, Colorado State University, Farm House Market and Helena AgriEnterprises provided the funding to support this educational youth event. The Colorado Section of the Society for Range Management provided individual awards as part of their youth activities program. The Colorado State Land Board, Colorado Department of Ag, and local Natural Resources Conservation Service provided staff assistance. The generous support of these sponsors is greatly appreciated.