The Stewardson-Strasburg FFA Land Use Team recently represented Illinois at the National Land and Range Judging Contest May 7 at Fort Reno in El Reno, Oklahoma.
The team qualified for the national contest after earning a second-place finish at the Illinois state competition last October. This year, 191 teams representing 32 states traveled to Oklahoma to compete in one of the nation’s premier agricultural judging events.
Representing Stewardson-Strasburg were Oliver Wascher, Atticus Wascher, Zaida Wascher and Brooke Schumacher. In the Homesite Judging Division, the team earned a 17th place overall finish, while also placing 79th overall in the Land Judging Division. Individually, Atticus Wascher placed 24th overall and Brooke Schumacher earned a 32nd place overall finish in the Homesite Division.
The National Land and Range Judging Contest has been hosted in Oklahoma since 1952. The contest challenges students to evaluate soils, land-use practices and natural resource management. Participants gain valuable knowledge in soil conservation, land capability, homesite evaluation and environmental stewardship.