Vian FFA earns national championship honors

The 73rd annual National Land & Range Judging (NLRJ) contest attracted students from across the nation to the Oklahoma City area from April 30 through May 2. There were over 1,000 contestants, 194 teams, from 34 states. Teams traveled from an array of states including Washington state, Maryland, New Jersey and Florida.

Beyond the contest, NLRJ is a chance for high school juniors and seniors to explore continuing education and career opportunities in the field of conservation and soil science. The event reflected students as well as leaders of the next generation of conservationists.

The Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts (OACD) is the primary host of the contest with additional sponsorship from 30 sponsors. In addition, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and its employees play a significant role annually in the success of the event, as does the Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OCC). The event reflected students as well as leaders of the next generation of conservationists.

The celebratory banquet included participants hearing from Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture, Blayne Arthur, NRCS State Conservationist Jeanne Hamilton, and NRCS Chief Terry Cosby (via video address).

The 4-H and FFA students match their skills in judging the adaptability of the land for various purposes, including farming, range management and home development.

The skills the teens apply at the contest involve principles they can use in career fields such as environmental and range management, natural resource conservation, home building and construction.

The event was centered around the Canadian County Expo and Event center in El Reno.

Each year a different farm, ranch, company, organization or agency hosts the contest site on its land near the Oklahoma City metro area.

The awards ceremony took place on May 2 at the CCEC arena.

The national team championship trophies for homesite evaluation were awarded to Vian FFA.

Team members include Ally Trotter, Gracie Risley, Kloey Kisselburg and Chastity Smith.

Trotter placed fourth and Risley finished 11th in the overall National individual rankings.

The Vian FFA land judging team also earned National recognition for placing fourth overall in the land judging division.

Team members were Jathan Brockman, Madison Ross, Harley Casey and Chasity Smith.

National team winners: FFA Homesite Evaluation: National Champions- Vian FFA, Oklahoma Reserve National Champions- Roane County FFA, West Virginia 3rd- McCook Central FFA, South Dakota 4th- Stratford FFA, Oklahoma 5th- Hico FFA, Texas FFA Land Judging National Champions- Blue River Valley FFA, Indiana Reserve National Champions- Grady FFA, Texas 3rd- Roane County FFA, West Virginia 4th- Vian FFA, Oklahoma 5th- Wessington Springs FFA, South Dakota