The Superior Express -

Last Monday, the Lawrence-Nelson FFA Chapter took four students to a mock range judging contest hosted by the Nuckolls-Thayer County extension office, Little Blue NRD, Hebron NRCS, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. Without these organizations understanding the importance of this contest, students would not have been able to compete since the state canceling range contests because of COVID. L-N Range judgers got to compete with four other schools. The setup of the contest was a little different than what they are used to but they identified 24 plants with each plant's pedigree, completed an animal stocking rate, completed three ecological sites and then answered 10 range related questions. Typically at the state-held contest, there are two age divisions but because this one was a little smaller, everyone was put in one division.

The L-N team performed well. The team, coached by Fay Statz, consisted of Kylie Beard, Wyatt Hajny, Nathan Elledge and Riley Funk. The team placed fourth overall. Individually Beard placed second out of 35 students. Hajny placed 20th, Elledge placed 24 and Funk placed 26. Congrats to all who participated!