YOUR AD HERE »

Another successful year in Range Judging for the Scottsbluff FFA

Hayley Clark
Scottsbluff FFA Reporter
Austin Groskopf (left) won overall individual in the senior division at districts and Tevyn Baldwin won first place in the junior division.

Hairy grama or Blue grama? Cudweed sagewort or Fringed sagewort? Sands or sandy? These are just a few questions competitors of the Scottsbluff FFA chapter were asking themselves at the district range judging contest, held in Broadwater on Sept. 21, 2010. After weeks of practicing, the Scottsbluff chapter did well enough to capture the top placing in the junior division, and second in the senior division. The second senior team came in at fourth place.

Six schools competed in the district contest: Kimball, Alliance, Creek Valley, Sidney, Gordon-Rushville, and Scottsbluff. There were 31 competitors in the senior division, and 17 competitors in the junior division. During the contest, competitors had to identify 24 different plants, judge the degree of use on a section of land, and be able to successfully complete a ranch problem.

The students who competed in the contest for Scottsbluff FFA had different goals of what they would use the knowledge for they gained from the contest. “By being able to identify plant species and range sites, I can possibly apply it to a future career or just for my own ranch,” said sophomore, Tevyn Baldwin, who is looking into range management as a possible career choice.



For Ashley Pike, who is a junior at Scottsbluff High School, it will be beneficial for a future career raising cattle. “I own cattle, and I think the better I know the land I’m running them on, the better my operation will be.”

It was a whole different story for sophomore Katey Meyers. This was her first year competing, and Katey was very doubtful about range judging, but should be more confident after finishing well at this year’s contest. Katey plans to use her range skills to help her grandfather improve the profitability of his farm.



This year’s junior team consisted of Tevyn Baldwin, Katey Meyers, and Zach Perlinger. Although this is Baldwin’s second contest, it was a first for both Perlinger and Meyers. “I was really nervous when we first got to the contest,” admits Perlinger. “I just had to think of the contest like it was a practice, and Mr. Pedulla was just flagging off 24 plants for us. I was really happy with how well my team did in the end. Now, I’m hoping we do well at state.”

The junior team came in with a total of 893 points, which was 149 points ahead of the second place junior team. Baldwin lead the junior division for the second year in a row, with a score of 338 points at this year’s contest. Both Perlinger and Meyers placed in the top 10 in the junior division, with Meyers coming in fourth with 288 points, and Perlinger in sixth with 267 points. Baldwin has attended the Nebraska Youth Range Camp for the past two years, and has made it a personal goal to compete with herself to get better at every contest.

In the senior division, the second place team consisted of Austin Groskopf, Kyra Baldwin, Hayley Clark, and Ashley Pike. Groskopf, Clark, and Pike had competed in range since their freshman year. Kyra Baldwin attended the Nebraska Youth Range Camp this past summer, while Hayley Clark attended the camp for the second time.

Pike believed it was the team’s different strong qualities that allowed them to finish so well. The team finished with a score of 1,161 points, only trailing two points behind Sidney who took home first. Groskopf was first overall with 432 points, Kyra Baldwin was third with 391 points, Clark was ninth with 338 points, and Pike rounded out the team with 11th place and 326 points.

“The contest was fun,” Groskopf said. “It was an all-around great day, and everybody came home with a ribbon. I’m excited Scottsbluff will now have a plaque in our chapter.” Baldwin was also pleased with how well she did at the contest. “I really enjoyed judging the plants, and was very proud of how well I did.”

“I was really nervous with how we would do at the contest,” Clark added. “I’m so proud of how our team did. Our team has had made it our personal goal to hopefully make it to nationals, so I’m hoping luck will be on our side and we will.”

The second senior team consisted of Chris Hartsuiker, Hallie Anderson, and Jessica Wolf. Both Anderson and Hartsuiker have competed in the range judging contest before, and Jessica Wolf attended the Nebraska Youth Range Camp for the first time this past summer.

They also did well, and came in with 896 points and a fourth place finish. Anderson came in at 14th place with 305 points, Wolf at 15th place with 304 points, and Hartsuiker at 17th place with 287 points.

Wolf was very thankful for all the help she received at camp and from Scottsbluff’s advisor, Bob Pedulla. “I thought my team did a lot better than I thought we might. I’m really glad I received so much help from so many different people,” Wolf proudly admits.

Scottsbluff’s junior team and first senior team traveled to Red Cloud, Neb., on September 28th and 29th. The chapter had three participants place in the top 25%; Tevyn Baldwin, ninth place in junior division, Kyra Baldwin, 12th place in senior division, and Austin Groskopf placed 44th.

Hairy grama or Blue grama? Cudweed sagewort or Fringed sagewort? Sands or sandy? These are just a few questions competitors of the Scottsbluff FFA chapter were asking themselves at the district range judging contest, held in Broadwater on Sept. 21, 2010. After weeks of practicing, the Scottsbluff chapter did well enough to capture the top placing in the junior division, and second in the senior division. The second senior team came in at fourth place.

Six schools competed in the district contest: Kimball, Alliance, Creek Valley, Sidney, Gordon-Rushville, and Scottsbluff. There were 31 competitors in the senior division, and 17 competitors in the junior division. During the contest, competitors had to identify 24 different plants, judge the degree of use on a section of land, and be able to successfully complete a ranch problem.

The students who competed in the contest for Scottsbluff FFA had different goals of what they would use the knowledge for they gained from the contest. “By being able to identify plant species and range sites, I can possibly apply it to a future career or just for my own ranch,” said sophomore, Tevyn Baldwin, who is looking into range management as a possible career choice.

For Ashley Pike, who is a junior at Scottsbluff High School, it will be beneficial for a future career raising cattle. “I own cattle, and I think the better I know the land I’m running them on, the better my operation will be.”

It was a whole different story for sophomore Katey Meyers. This was her first year competing, and Katey was very doubtful about range judging, but should be more confident after finishing well at this year’s contest. Katey plans to use her range skills to help her grandfather improve the profitability of his farm.

This year’s junior team consisted of Tevyn Baldwin, Katey Meyers, and Zach Perlinger. Although this is Baldwin’s second contest, it was a first for both Perlinger and Meyers. “I was really nervous when we first got to the contest,” admits Perlinger. “I just had to think of the contest like it was a practice, and Mr. Pedulla was just flagging off 24 plants for us. I was really happy with how well my team did in the end. Now, I’m hoping we do well at state.”

The junior team came in with a total of 893 points, which was 149 points ahead of the second place junior team. Baldwin lead the junior division for the second year in a row, with a score of 338 points at this year’s contest. Both Perlinger and Meyers placed in the top 10 in the junior division, with Meyers coming in fourth with 288 points, and Perlinger in sixth with 267 points. Baldwin has attended the Nebraska Youth Range Camp for the past two years, and has made it a personal goal to compete with herself to get better at every contest.

In the senior division, the second place team consisted of Austin Groskopf, Kyra Baldwin, Hayley Clark, and Ashley Pike. Groskopf, Clark, and Pike had competed in range since their freshman year. Kyra Baldwin attended the Nebraska Youth Range Camp this past summer, while Hayley Clark attended the camp for the second time.

Pike believed it was the team’s different strong qualities that allowed them to finish so well. The team finished with a score of 1,161 points, only trailing two points behind Sidney who took home first. Groskopf was first overall with 432 points, Kyra Baldwin was third with 391 points, Clark was ninth with 338 points, and Pike rounded out the team with 11th place and 326 points.

“The contest was fun,” Groskopf said. “It was an all-around great day, and everybody came home with a ribbon. I’m excited Scottsbluff will now have a plaque in our chapter.” Baldwin was also pleased with how well she did at the contest. “I really enjoyed judging the plants, and was very proud of how well I did.”

“I was really nervous with how we would do at the contest,” Clark added. “I’m so proud of how our team did. Our team has had made it our personal goal to hopefully make it to nationals, so I’m hoping luck will be on our side and we will.”

The second senior team consisted of Chris Hartsuiker, Hallie Anderson, and Jessica Wolf. Both Anderson and Hartsuiker have competed in the range judging contest before, and Jessica Wolf attended the Nebraska Youth Range Camp for the first time this past summer.

They also did well, and came in with 896 points and a fourth place finish. Anderson came in at 14th place with 305 points, Wolf at 15th place with 304 points, and Hartsuiker at 17th place with 287 points.

Wolf was very thankful for all the help she received at camp and from Scottsbluff’s advisor, Bob Pedulla. “I thought my team did a lot better than I thought we might. I’m really glad I received so much help from so many different people,” Wolf proudly admits.

Scottsbluff’s junior team and first senior team traveled to Red Cloud, Neb., on September 28th and 29th. The chapter had three participants place in the top 25%; Tevyn Baldwin, ninth place in junior division, Kyra Baldwin, 12th place in senior division, and Austin Groskopf placed 44th.

Hairy grama or Blue grama? Cudweed sagewort or Fringed sagewort? Sands or sandy? These are just a few questions competitors of the Scottsbluff FFA chapter were asking themselves at the district range judging contest, held in Broadwater on Sept. 21, 2010. After weeks of practicing, the Scottsbluff chapter did well enough to capture the top placing in the junior division, and second in the senior division. The second senior team came in at fourth place.

Six schools competed in the district contest: Kimball, Alliance, Creek Valley, Sidney, Gordon-Rushville, and Scottsbluff. There were 31 competitors in the senior division, and 17 competitors in the junior division. During the contest, competitors had to identify 24 different plants, judge the degree of use on a section of land, and be able to successfully complete a ranch problem.

The students who competed in the contest for Scottsbluff FFA had different goals of what they would use the knowledge for they gained from the contest. “By being able to identify plant species and range sites, I can possibly apply it to a future career or just for my own ranch,” said sophomore, Tevyn Baldwin, who is looking into range management as a possible career choice.

For Ashley Pike, who is a junior at Scottsbluff High School, it will be beneficial for a future career raising cattle. “I own cattle, and I think the better I know the land I’m running them on, the better my operation will be.”

It was a whole different story for sophomore Katey Meyers. This was her first year competing, and Katey was very doubtful about range judging, but should be more confident after finishing well at this year’s contest. Katey plans to use her range skills to help her grandfather improve the profitability of his farm.

This year’s junior team consisted of Tevyn Baldwin, Katey Meyers, and Zach Perlinger. Although this is Baldwin’s second contest, it was a first for both Perlinger and Meyers. “I was really nervous when we first got to the contest,” admits Perlinger. “I just had to think of the contest like it was a practice, and Mr. Pedulla was just flagging off 24 plants for us. I was really happy with how well my team did in the end. Now, I’m hoping we do well at state.”

The junior team came in with a total of 893 points, which was 149 points ahead of the second place junior team. Baldwin lead the junior division for the second year in a row, with a score of 338 points at this year’s contest. Both Perlinger and Meyers placed in the top 10 in the junior division, with Meyers coming in fourth with 288 points, and Perlinger in sixth with 267 points. Baldwin has attended the Nebraska Youth Range Camp for the past two years, and has made it a personal goal to compete with herself to get better at every contest.

In the senior division, the second place team consisted of Austin Groskopf, Kyra Baldwin, Hayley Clark, and Ashley Pike. Groskopf, Clark, and Pike had competed in range since their freshman year. Kyra Baldwin attended the Nebraska Youth Range Camp this past summer, while Hayley Clark attended the camp for the second time.

Pike believed it was the team’s different strong qualities that allowed them to finish so well. The team finished with a score of 1,161 points, only trailing two points behind Sidney who took home first. Groskopf was first overall with 432 points, Kyra Baldwin was third with 391 points, Clark was ninth with 338 points, and Pike rounded out the team with 11th place and 326 points.

“The contest was fun,” Groskopf said. “It was an all-around great day, and everybody came home with a ribbon. I’m excited Scottsbluff will now have a plaque in our chapter.” Baldwin was also pleased with how well she did at the contest. “I really enjoyed judging the plants, and was very proud of how well I did.”

“I was really nervous with how we would do at the contest,” Clark added. “I’m so proud of how our team did. Our team has had made it our personal goal to hopefully make it to nationals, so I’m hoping luck will be on our side and we will.”

The second senior team consisted of Chris Hartsuiker, Hallie Anderson, and Jessica Wolf. Both Anderson and Hartsuiker have competed in the range judging contest before, and Jessica Wolf attended the Nebraska Youth Range Camp for the first time this past summer.

They also did well, and came in with 896 points and a fourth place finish. Anderson came in at 14th place with 305 points, Wolf at 15th place with 304 points, and Hartsuiker at 17th place with 287 points.

Wolf was very thankful for all the help she received at camp and from Scottsbluff’s advisor, Bob Pedulla. “I thought my team did a lot better than I thought we might. I’m really glad I received so much help from so many different people,” Wolf proudly admits.

Scottsbluff’s junior team and first senior team traveled to Red Cloud, Neb., on September 28th and 29th. The chapter had three participants place in the top 25%; Tevyn Baldwin, ninth place in junior division, Kyra Baldwin, 12th place in senior division, and Austin Groskopf placed 44th.


[placeholder]