The West Holt FFA Chapter recently posted a dominant performance at the 70th Annual Nebraska State Range Judging Contest held in Chase County.
The contest is organized by the Nebraska Range Judging Committee and local partners from the NRD, NRCS, and Nebraska Extension. Six area contests culminate in a state contest aimed at promoting range management and conservation practices among Nebraska’s youth.
West Holt FFA member Mason Crumrine was the top senior individual competitor. In the junior division, West Holt FFA Chapter members claimed three of the top four spots in the junior division: Berkleigh Dvorak (1st), London Konrad (2nd), Hunter Wettlaufer (4th).
In addition, 10 senior competitors and six junior competitors for West Holt placed in the top 25%.
The outstanding individual performances led both teams in the senior and junior divisions to place in the top three.
The Burwell FFA Chapter also had a strong performance, with two senior individuals placing in the top four and two members placing in the top 25%.
The event drew an impressive turnout, with 197 seniors, 205 juniors, and 27 adults competing from 47 schools across the state. Participants showcased their skills in rangeland evaluation, plant identification, and ecological principles—knowledge critical to the future of Nebraska’s rangelands and sustainable agriculture.
Top Senior Individuals:
1st – Mason Crumrine – West Holt
2nd – Mazee Johnson – Boyd County
3rd – Josiah Koenigsberg – Burwell
4th – Cody Marshall – Burwell
Top 25% (receiving participation ribbons):
- Arapahoe — Trenton Roskop
- Arcadia — Baylon Kolar, Rylee Kursave
- Boyd County — Brandon Boettcher, Kayden Kayl
- Burwell — Ericka Larsen, Cale Buss, Cody Burson, Colter Wright, Kaitlyn Simpson
- Chadron High School — Owen Wess
- Chase County — Westyn Mendenhall, Jayme Gittlein, Odessa Zadina, Peyton Owens
- Fullerton — Aidan Bittner
- Hayes Center FFA — Ava Hardin
- Lewiston — Axel Seeman
- Loup County FFA — Emmett Sortum
- McPherson County — Isaac Goosey
- Meridian — Samuel Thomas
- Nebraska Ag Academy — Naomi Deaver, Emily Brhel
- Norris — Olivia Zoubek
- Ord — Dawson Thompson
- Rock County — Trey Anthony
- Sargent — LoReena Schauda, TJ Horky, Cazen Smith, Eve Kipp
- St. Paul — Layne Baker, Jack Thede
- Valentine — Quinton Nelson, Thane Taylor, Cadence Swanson
- West Holt — Lily Vogel, Madalyn Pistulka, Drake Nemetz, Monica Chavez, Hannah Olson, Zeke Klabenes, Lincoln Konrad, Kruz Jelinek, Nick Hansen, Cale Deseive
- Wheeler Central — Jayna Guggenmos
Top Junior Individuals:
1st – Berkleigh Dvorak – West Holt
2nd – London Konrad – West Holt
3rd – Lukas Fries – Chase County
4th – Hunter Wettlaufer – West Holt
Top 25% (receiving participation ribbons)
- Arapahoe — Briggs Hill, Carter Blickenstaff
- Arcadia — Kale Dorsey, Jacob Andrews
- Boyd County — Kaci Koenig
- Burwell — Hudson Redman, Jordee Johnston, Kolton Thoene ,Myah Wright ,Julianne Borgelt
- Chardon — Sam Kahl, Kayden Kvistad
- Chase County — Aidan Vlasin, Ali Reeves, Kadence Wallin, Taylor Maddux, Braxton Chubb
- Deshler — Landyn Tuma
- Kimball — Trey Cook
- Lewiston — Evan Christen
- McCook — Kate Barenberg, Spencer Snyder
- Nebraska Ag Academy — Hazel Deaver, Heidi Deaver
- Ord — Elizabeth Skibinski, Kyptan Scheideler, Mason Bauer, Avery Bruha, Knox Nelson, Howard Winkelbauer
- Red Cloud — Bridgett Lockhart
- St. Paul — Rylan Rasmussen, Keislyn Poss, Conner Douthit
- Summerland — Breckyn Bergman
- Valentine — Raken Tinant, River Doyle, Annalena Nelson
- Wallace — Allyson Kemp
- West Holt — Elizabeth Olson, Jamison Slaymaker, Max Karo, Case Shane, Emersyn Mlady, Ian Shane
- Wheeler Central — Reese Smith, Justin Guggenmos, Hadley Pokorny
Top Senior Teams:
1st – West Holt: Mason Crumrine, Lily Vogel, Madalyn Pistulka, Drake Nemetz
2nd – Burwell: Josiah Koenigsberg, Cody Marshall, Ericka Larsen, Cale Buss
3rd – West Holt: Monica Chavez, Hannah Olson, Kruz Jelinek, Lincoln Konrad
Top Junior Teams:
1st – West Holt: Berkleigh Dvorak, London Konrad, Hunter Wettlaufer, Elizabeth Olson
2nd – Chase County: Lukas Fries, Aidan Vlasin, Ali Reeves, Kadence Wallin
3rd – West Holt: Jamison Slaymaker, Max Karo, Case Shane, Emersyn Mlady
