Cooperative Extension Service Communications and Technology Department 3354 1000 E. University Ave. Laramie, WY 82071 (307) 766-2540 • fax (307) 766-3998 • www.uwyo.edu

 

For Immediate Release

 

Contact: Robert Waggener, Editor

Phone: (307) 766-3571

E-mail: robertw@uwyo.edu

 

Date: May 15, 2006

 

Converse County 4-H judging team sixth at nationals

            The Converse County 4-H Range Judging Team won first place in the western region and placed sixth in the nation at the 55th annual National Land and Range Judging Contest in Oklahoma City, Okla. 

            Members of the team were Sage Askin, Leah Hays and Jesse Patterson, all of Douglas.  The team was coached by volunteers Tim Bixby and Misty Hays of Douglas.

            Leading the team was Sage Askin with a 12th-place finish overall. Patterson finished 16th and Hays placed 20th.

            “The goal of the contest is to reinforce skills needed to manage rangeland for a variety of uses. The contest was really tough this year,” Bixby said. 

            The Douglas 4-Hers tested their individual and team skills against land and range judging teams from 35 other states. The more than 150 teams that competed at nationals were comprised of 4-H and FFA members. Teams qualified by placing in the top five of their state contests.

            The Converse County team was selected to represent Wyoming at the Wyoming Resource Education Days in July 2005.

            The national championships included identifying range plants and evaluating range ecological sites for suitability for livestock and wildlife uses. The May 2-4 contest ended a week that included practice range sites and intensive study of range plants.

            The Wyoming 4-H program is the youth education arm of the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service, and its state offices are in the College of Agriculture.

             “Congratulations to these youth on being recognized on a large scale. This is a great example of how 4-H adult volunteers support the young people in our communities in their education, their interests and opportunities,” said state 4-H Program Coordinator Johnathan Despain.

            “Along the way of accomplishing this great achievement, these young people have instilled dedication, commitment and responsibility, and they learned to work with adults in positive ways. You can’t ask for a better set of skills to provide young people as they approach adulthood,” Despain added.

            He said the 4-H program is about helping young people develop and grow in their interests by providing positive learning opportunities. 

            “Clearly, these young people have done that and can be congratulated on such an accomplishment,” he noted.

            A team from Newell, S.D., won the 4-H team category in range judging.

            On the Web: http://www.okcc.state.ok.us/Home/land_judging/land-range-contest.htm.

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