Goldenstein takes second in State Range Judging Holyoke FFA earns best ranking in program history

From a first-year FFA member to a second-place champion at the State Range Judging Competition in Siebert, Addie Goldenstein has inspired students to go for the gold. Moreover, not only was she a force to be reckoned with at the competition, the entirety of Holyoke’s current FFA chapter earned the best ranking in their Range Judging history, placing third out of 23 teams.

Nine other students managed to make their mark leading into the end of Range season: Carson Hein, Reid Sprague, Liz Hein and Alexie Metzger placed in the Silver Category; Karlie Martin, Nicole Schlachter, Simon Krueger, Jimena Nunez and Cody Maloney placed in the Bronze Category.

Up to this point, Holyoke FFA Advisor Shauna Strecker said, their highest ranking was fourth in 2019.

Range Judging students are tested on their ability to read a landscape, identify its plants, and determine its potential uses and ability to support animal life. For some, the Oct. 12 competition was the highlight of their quarter, with many hours spent studying in the hope of a good outcome. 

“We have been preparing for this contest for the last two months, or since the beginning of school,” Strecker said. 

The FFA team and State Champion Goldenstein utilized the Regional Range Judging contest held Sept. 29 in New Raymer for further practice. Goldenstein describes the effort as follows: “A lot of the work we did was in table groups, or working with a partner. This way, everybody was informed and involved.” Alongside the hefty studying at school, many of Strecker’s students took the information to study at home. Goldenstein herself used notes and flashcards.

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