Sul Ross hosts 4-H, FFA Judging Invitational

ALPINE The Sul Ross State University Collegiate FFA, in conjunction with the departments of Natural Resource Management and Animal Science, hosted the annual FFA and 4-H Invitational Judging Contest on March 5 at the Turner Range Animal Science Center.

About 80 students from 4-H clubs from Brewster, Jeff Davis, Presidio and Ward counties; and FFA chapters including Alpine, Clint, Gardendale and Southland, participated in Agricultural Mechanics, Horse Judging, Livestock Judging and Range Plant Identification.
The contest was open to all FFA chapters, Junior 4-H, and Senior 4-H clubs across Texas.

Clay Rasmussen, associate professor of Agricultural Education, and numerous Sul Ross students and faculty worked many hours to make this contest a huge success.

Each of the contests featured the specific skills of the participants. The students entered into the agricultural mechanics featured products they built either individually or as a group. Entries this year consisted of a truck mounted hunting rack, a heavy duty cattle guard with swinging gate, a homemade 18 foot flat-bed trailer, a barbeque pit trailer (currently up for raffle for $10 at the Alpine FFA) and a quail return capture pen. Projects were analyzed for skill in workmanship, structural correctness, visual eye appeal, and presentation of the project by the student(s). Projects were evaluated by Dan Vrudny and several of his industrial technology students.

Students participating in horse judging were required to exercise their evaluation skills in placing 8 groups of horses in order from best to worst.

The students placings were then compared to the official judges (Lindsey Lemons - Sul Ross student, Jesse Schneider - Agriculture Natural Resource County Agent in Presidio). In addition to placing each set of horses, the participants were required to answer questions about specific horses after the horses were no longer in sight. Some horse judging students presented oral reasons explaining their reasons for placing horses in a specific order. Horses were brought, ridden and handled by Sul Ross Collegiate FFA members, Sul Ross Equine Club, and numerous other students from Sul Ross.

Participants of the livestock judging contest placed breeds of hogs, sheep and cattle from best to worst. The participants' placings were compared against the official judges (Sul Ross students James Raulston, Nick Wolfe, and Katie Blount). In addition to placing animals, the participants were asked specific questions about individual animals, took a 25-question written exam, and gave oral reasons for their placings.

Range plant identification participants had their knowledge put to test as they identified specific grasses and plants commonly found in range setting. In addition to identifying particular plants, participants were required to note specific characteristics and uses of each plant.

Bonnie Warnock with a staff of range science faculty and students hosted and graded the participants work in this contest.

Contest winners
>> Agricultural Mechanics: Sweepstakes First Place, Colton Woodward (Alpine FFA); Sweepstakes second place, Morgan Molsbee (Alpine 4-H); Trailers: Colton Woodward (Alpine FFA); Pickup and Truck Accessories: Calen Ahrens (Alpine FFA); Home Convenience: Sergio Hinojos, Albino Ybarra, Jeff Rante, Joseph Macias, Havier Vargas (Alpine FFA); Livestock and Wildlife Equipment: Everett Morrow, Josh Cross (Alpine FFA), Morgan Molsbee (Alpine 4-H).
>> Horse Judging: First Place Individual Jr. 4-H, Casey Lewis (Gardendale 4-H); First Place Individual Sr. 4-H, Rachel Barrett (Gardendale 4-H); First Place Individual FFA, Kayla Black (Clint FFA); Second PlaceIndividual Jr. 4-H, Ryanne Lewis (Gardendale 4-H); Second PlaceIndividual Sr. 4-H, Alexis Huckabee (Gardendale 4-H); Second PlaceIndividual FFA, Nikki Woodward (Alpine FFA); Third Place Individual FFA, Naomi Sternes (Alpine FFA); First Place Team Jr. 4-H, Gardendale 4-H, Casey Lewis, Ryanne Lewis; First Place Team Sr. 4-H, Gardendale 4-H, Rachel Barrett, Alexis Huckabee; First Place Team FFA, Alpine FFA, Nikki Woodward, Naomi Sternes, Colton Woodward, Brodie Devou; Second PlaceTeam FFA, Clint FFA, Kayla Black, Kelsey Reed, Bridgett Lettunich , Andy Spence; Third Place FFA Team, Southland FFA, Kelcee Lewis, Deagon Moore, Bianca Abraham, Laken Johnson.
>> Livestock Judging: First Place Individual Sr. 4-H, Riley Price (Ward County 4-H); First Place Individual FFA, Danny Jones (Clint FFA); Second Place Individual Sr. 4-H, Robby Fabien (Ward County 4-H); Second Place Individual FFA, Taylor Moore (Alpine FFA); Third Place Individual Sr. 4-H, Kim Wilson (Ward County 4H); Third Place Individual FFA, Owen Kylie (Clint FFA); First Place 4-H Team, Ward County, Kim Wilson, Bobby Fabien, Riley Price; First Place FFA Team, Clint FFA, Danny Jones, Owen Kylie, Tyler Bott, Jessica Moore; Second Place FFA Team, Southland FFA, Michael Estrada, Colton Schoonover, Devin Blanton; Third Place FFA Team, Alpine FFA, Aaron Macias, Tyler Vick, Taylor Moore.
>> Plant ID: First Place Individual Jr. 4-H, Jasper Klein (Presidio 4-H); First Place Individual Sr. 4-H, Charles Baize (Jeff Davis 4-H); Second Place Individual Jr. 4-H, Locke Ann McIvor (Jeff Davis 4-H); Second Place Individual Sr. 4-H, Wesley Freeland (Brewster County 4-H); Third Place Individual Jr. 4-H, Timothy Roberts (Brewster County 4-H) Third Place Individual Sr. 4-H, Soncee Heard (Ward County 4H); First Place Team, Presidio Jr. 4-H, Jasper Klein, Thomas Giesbrecht, Joseph Giesbrecth; Second Place Team, Jeff Davis 4-H, Tyler Wright, Trent Whitesell, Locke Ann McIvor, Courtney Stephens; Third Place Team, Ward County 4-H, Bobby Erwin, Soncee Heard, Megan Johnson.