On Wednesday, Oct. 18 New Ulm FFA sent the Dairy Judging, Horse Evaluation, and General Livestock teams to compete in Arlington at the Region 7 contest in hopes of placing high enough for a chance at state.
Leading up to the competitions the teams put in many hours of hard work looking at different classes and deciding placings. All three teams at the competition were given a variety of classes and were asked to place them based on a number of desired traits.
The General Livestock team consisted of senior Kaden Wilson, sophomores Zelli Kamm, Aubree Schmidt, John Sondag, and freshman Kate Schmidt. As returning members of the team Kaden, Zelli, Aubree, and John had previous experience but Kate picked up quickly as she has past experience showing livestock. The competition involved judging market hogs, a variety of heifers, and market goats and lambs. The Livestock team placed 8th overall with a combined score of 1071 points closely followed by New Richland- Heartland-Ellendale- Geneva with a score of 1069. Being 8 out of 28 teams showed that the team’s hard work paid off.
“Individually I felt I could have done better it wasn’t my best judging… Our team overall did very well we placed 8th as a team which means we are heading to state!” said Kamm.
It was the first year in a while that New Ulm FFA has had a Dairy Judging team. So when Madilyn Portner, Alex Schroeder, Austin Krohn, Calleigh Frederickson, and Tilken Fruhwirth signed up and had prior knowledge the advisors got excited. The dairy team looked at milking shorthorn spring calves, guernsey fall calves, Holstein fall calves, and Holstein winter yearlings, along with Holstein 2 and 5-year-olds. They also had the privilege to have John Schroeder come in and give them some tips and tricks for judging. With freshman Alex Schroeder placing second overall with a score of 332 only 2 points from first advisor Kelsey Brandt considered that a win. With only the top four scores from each team counting and the group’s top scores in the top 20, the group’s combined score was an impressive 1048 giving them the placement of 2nd out of 18.
The Horse Evaluation team also secured a spot at state with a score of 845 and placement of 4 out of 24 teams. The Horse team consisted of Claire Hoffmann, Taylor Sommer, Karli Schwab, Ava Nachreiner, and Hannah Davey. The horse team judged quarter horse mares, stock geldings, ranch pleasure, western pleasure, and western horsemanship. Hoffmann scored 3 individually with a score of 305. With all four qualifying scores being in the top 40 they managed to secure a spot to compete at state in April.
With all three teams competing making it to state it was a great day for New Ulm FFA. It was great to see that dairy, general livestock, and horse evaluation made it to the state level in the same year.
