by Ben Beckman
IMPERIAL, Neb. — Chase County hosted the 70th Annual Nebraska State Range Judging Contest, marking a milestone for one of the state’s longest-running educational contests. Organized by the Nebraska Range Judging Committee and local partners from the NRD, NRCS, and Nebraska Extension, six area contests culminated in a state contest aimed at promoting range management and conservation practices among Nebraska’s youth.
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.
The Upper Republican NRD hosted this year’s contest, with additional support from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, other Natural Resources Districts, Nebraska Extension, and various conservation groups and local supporters.
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