Nearly 850 4-H and FFA members, and over 250 coaches from 34 states, gathered in Oklahoma for the 69th National Land and Range Judging Contest, May 5, 2022. After two days of practice at sites in the Oklahoma City area, the contest was held near El Reno, Oklahoma at the Cheyenne Arapaho Tribal Headquarters.
South O’Brien FFA Advisor, Eric Kumm said, “The month leading up to the team leaving for Oklahoma, the rainy, wet, and cold weather conditions were not really conducive to practicing outside. Once the team arrived in Oklahoma City, the weather continued to be stormy and wet.”
However, once the maps to the practice pits were distributed, the team was eager to head out and learn as much as possible about the Oklahoma soil. Moermond commented “The red soil takes a little getting used to for identifying where the different horizons are located.”
While at the practice pits, the team also worked on calculating slope, which is done completely different than in Iowa. Woodall said, “In Iowa we are given the difference in elevation between the two stakes. At the National Contest we have to determine the difference by standing back, eyeing the top of one stake with a pencil and rotating our arm to see where the pencil is located over the other stake.”
The South O’Brien FFA team of Dain Moermond, Dante Johnson, Jacob Van Lith and Ben Woodall placed 48th out of 103 FFA Land Judging Teams. “Mr. Kumm told us that the coaches with teams that regularly make it to Nationals have said that to place in the top half is always a challenge. So we were fairly happy with our placing–plus we beat the state champion team from Iowa.” said Johnson.
While in Oklahoma City, the team also had the chance tour the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum bomb site, Oklahoma National Stockyards, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and the Express Ranch Clydesdales, along with having a steak dinner at the famous Cattlemen’s Steakhouse. Van Lith commented “I’d have to say my most memorable parts of the trip were the storm warnings the second day and visiting the OKC bombing memorial.”
The team appreciates the support of administration and school board, FFA Booster Club, and the South O’Brien communities and businesses that help make these experiences possible for the chapter members.