WORLAND — After earning a state runner-up title in range judging last year members of the team were eager to return and reclaim their state title.

Prior to 2016, Chief Washakie FFA had been the State Range Judging Champions for the past five years in a row, according to advisor Grace Godfrey. Earning that spot back was certainly on the minds of the members that returned this year. Senior, Elizabeth Martinez would be returning for the third year, while juniors Siobhan Myers, Hunter Elliott and Ivan Perez all had a year of experience under their belts. However new information on sage grouse habitat and cattle feeding preferences were added this year.

Members attended WyRED (Wyoming Range Education Days) at the Mallo Camp near Newcastle for five days last week, with the competition rounding out on Friday. During the week members collected range plants, for a plant press that would later be turned in, took ranch tours, learned plant anatomy, ranch map planning, soil texturing, ecological site descriptions and similarity index as well as heard from guest speakers from the Farm Service Agency, Forestry Service, UW Extension (Mae Smith of Big Horn County), and Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Siobhan Myers placed first in the plant press for the second year in a row. She was also the Top Camper and won a belt buckle for her efforts.

Hunter Elliott was the high individual and also won a belt buckle.

For the past 10 years the Washakie County Conservation board has sponsored the Chief Washakie FFA team by paying for their WyRED fees. “We appreciate their continued support,” Godfrey said.