The State Grasslands competition was held on Thursday, October 16 in Ashland, Missouri. “Grasslands is a contest based on knowing and improving the land in varying aspects such as, plant diversity, soil testing interpretation, wildlife management, and pasture management,” states Jessica Cobban. The Fair Grove FFA chapter had two teams qualify for state this year with the 4-H team, consisting of Lynsey Rector, Jessica Cobban, Seiler Johnson, and Emily Jones, placing first at districts and the FFA team, consisting of Matia Hartley, Kelsey Brunkhorst, Colbie Covert, and Laura Jackson, placing second at districts.

“We have been working at it since the first day of school,” said Mr. Stockton, “The goal for state was to bring back a plaque.” The 4-H team achieved this goal. At state the 4-H team placed first in their division and the FFA team placed 12th. The two high individuals of the 4-H team were Lynsey Rector, who placed first, and Jessica Cobban, who placed third, in the 4-H division.

Jessica comments, “We have qualified for the National Land and Range Judging Contest in Oklahoma City, OK and the Mid-American Grassland Evaluation Contest in Springfield, MO.”

“We prepared for state by studying parts of the contest during advisory and at home and attended a Grasslands workshop,” said Lynsey Rector, “The most difficult part about state was the wildlife portion and the plant identification.” Lynsey also comments, “We definitely made history. We were the first two teams from Fair Grove to make it to state in grasslands and now we have set the bar high for future teams.”