The Ord FFA is looking forward to a great finish to the year with range judging season. The students have been studying range very hard in class this year. Fourteen students used their range knowledge by making a range board for the Nebraska State Fair.  The students had to make information tags and collect 15 plants. Those that received purples include: Nicole Ruterbories, Caleb Schauer, Nichole Setlik, Debra Wray, Kris Hornickel, Aaron Gallegos, Amanda Duvall, Trisha Dahlke, Bailey McKay, and Aaron Kokes.
Those that received blues were; Johnny Ference, Jamie Hornickel, Sarah Bruha, and Lindsey Vancura. We also had two welding boards go to the State Fair. A welding board consists of eight welds and information tags. Ryan Psota and Travis Dahlke both received blues. We had two members that exhibited
livestock in the FFA division. Willis Plate received a purple and a blue on his feeder calves. Lindsey Vancura received one blue and one red in the swine division.

From big bluestem to goldenrod the Ord FFA range judgers are learning it all. On September 11th, 28 Ord judgers attended a contest in Sargent. In the Sr. division those placing high individually were: Jamie Hornickel, 2nd; Caleb Schauer, 3rd; Amanda Duvall, 4th; Trisha Dahlke, 5th; Sam Krikac, 7th, and Aaron Kokes, 10th. The team of Jamie, Caleb, Trisha, and Sam received 1st and the team of Amanda, Aaron Kokes, Aaron Gallegos, and Bryan Nagorski received 2nd. In the Jr. division those placing high individually were Elizabeth Vavra, 2nd; Debra Wray, 3rd, and Thomas Sheppard, 10th. The team of Debra, Homero Gallegos, Thomas, and Elizabeth received 1st place overall. On September 18th, 35 members encountered drenching rains and slick conditions when they attended districts range judging in Spalding. Members receiving high honors in the Sr. division were; Aaron Gallegos, 1st; Aaron Kokes, 6th; Jamie Hornickel, 9th;  Amanda Duvall-10th, Bailey McKay-13th, Caleb Schauer, 14th and Trisha Dahlke, 21st. The team of Aaron Gallegos, Aaron Kokes, Bailey McKay, and Sam Krikac received 1st and the team of Caleb, Jamie, Amanda, and Trisha received 4th overall. Those members placing high in the Jr. division were Loren Volf, 3rd; Thomas Shappard, 8th; Debra Wray, 9th;  Kris Hornickel, 10th; Elizabeth Vavra, 11th and Christie Schauer-18th.

Despite high winds, cold temperatures, and light rain the Ord FFA managed to do very well at the state range judging competition held Oct. 1st and 2nd near Ainsworth. Sixteen range judgers started off Monday afternoon with a practice for the contest. On Tuesday the judgers watched the sunrise as they were waiting to practice one last time before the contest.

Those attending the contest were Caleb Schauer, Aaron Gallegos, Aaron Kokes, Jamie Hornickel, Amanda Duvall, Trisha Dahlke, Bailey McKay, Sam Krikac, Debra Wray, Liz Vavra, Kris Hornickel, Loren Volf, Lindsey Vancura, Christie Schauer, Kara Geweke, and Homero Gallegos. In the Sr. division Sam Krikac placed first individually, Amanda Duvall, 13th; Bailey McKay, 18th; Caleb Schauer, 17th; Aaron Kokes, 21st; Jamie Hornickel, 33rd; Trisha Dahlke, 35th and Aaron Gallegos, 53rd. The team of Amanda, Sam, Trisha and Bailey received 2nd and will be representing Ord at the National contest at Oklahoma City in May. In the Jr. division individual places were; Debra Wray, 3rd; Kris Hornickel, 4th; Christie Schauer, 12th; Kara Geweke, 11th; Homero Gallegos, 28th; Lindsey, 100th, and Loren, 167th. The Jr. team of Debra, Kris, Liz, and Loren placed 2nd. The Ord FFA Chapter has been busy serving the community.

 

Ord FFA members used their strength on September 15th to help the Loup Basin RC&D staff and volunteers to unload approximately 4,000 used tires. These old tires were brought in from this and surrounding communities.   The tires are ground up and used for parks and roads. The Ord FFA Chapter also helped with the Ord U.S. Bio Plant opening. They set up chairs and tables and worked to park cars, pick up trash, and clean up afterwards. Members also served food and cleaned up at the 125th anniversary for the First National Bank.