The 2008 State Range Judging Contest was held near Burwell on October 1st. This year’s contest was largest ever held and included 248 junior division individuals on 61 teams, 163 senior division individuals on 42 teams and 23 professional and adult contestants. West Holt’s senior division team came away as State Champions and was led by Becky Frerichs who was the individual State Champion.

Members of the state winning team were Becky Frerichs, Nick Schrunk, Beth Olson, and Tad Judge. Other senior division team results were 15th place, Todd Frickel, Matt Marcellus, and Grant Garwood; 16th place, Jessica Welsh, Nick Meusch, and Alex Frickel. Individual ribbon winners in the senior division were Becky Frerichs 1st, Nick Schrunk 4th, Beth Olson 10th, Todd Frickel, and Tad Judge.

West Holt’s top team is now qualified to compete in the National Range Judging Contest, held next May in Oklahoma City.Junior division team results include 5th place, Kent Frickel, Kalie Friedel, Mackenzie Gibbens, and Chris Kohle; 14th place, Kent Olson, Shawn Fetherston, Adam Seger, and Aaron Eckdahl; 16th place, Wesley Cole, Abigael Olson, Matt Laetsch, and Cole Neibauer; 19th place, Haley Jochem, Emily Miksch, Trevor Butterfield, and Kyle Friedel; 31st place, Jessica Pease, Jena Mathis, Jamie Peterson, and Jennifer Poessnecker; 53rd place, Lindsay Welsh, Tyler Butterfield, Caleb Dickau, and Hunter Pabian. Individual ribbon winners in the junior division were Kent Frickel 3rd, Kent Olson 9th, Wesley Cole, Shawn Fetherston, Kalie Friedel, Mackenzie Gibbens, Jessica Pease, Abigael Olson, and Haley Jochem.

Advisor David Gibbens placed 2nd in the Professional Division and student teacher Mitch Bredthauer placed 3rd in the Adult Division.

Peterson National Star Finalist
The National FFA Organization has named Kirk Peterson a 2008 American Star in Agricultural Placement finalist; he will compete with other finalists at the 81st National FFA Convention held October 22-25, in Indianapolis, IN.

Each year at the National FFA convention, 16 national finalists (four per award area) vie for the organization’s top awards: American Star Farmer, American Star in Agribusiness, American Star in Agricultural Placement, and American Star in Agriscience.

These awards honor students who have developed outstanding agricultural skills and competencies through their career development programs; demonstrated outstanding management skills; earned the American FFA Degree—the organization’s highest level of accomplishment; and met other agricultural education, scholastic and leadership requirements.

Each finalist will be interviewed by a panel of judges, who will ultimately name the top candidate in each area. The winner will be announced in an onstage convention ceremony and will receive a plaque and award of $4,000. The runners’-up will also receive plaques and $2,000 each.

Kirk is a 2006 graduate of West Holt High School and served as the 2004-05 Chapter Vice President and 2005-06 Chapter President. Peterson is the son of Tim and Linda Peterson.