Friday, April 15th, in MS may have been stormy outside, but the Kossuth FFA Judging Teams were calm and focused on the inside, as they brought home two  State Judging Championships and nearly a third. After weeks of practice during and after school, twelve Kossuth FFA chapter members traveled to MSU in Starkville to compete in dairy, horse and livestock career development events. Each team placed classes of animals, presented oral reasons on their placings and completed a written test or lab practicum.

Brittany Killough, Lee Hopson, Magan Ray, and Trey Rogers competed in the dairy evaluation contest. It was the first time judging for two of the team members and the first time competing in the dairy contest for all four contestants. Each team member commented that the test was so hard and surely would keep them from doing well. Image their surprise when they found out they placed second in state, which is quite an accomplishment!

Chantel Combee, Hannah Rinehart, Mercedes Steele, and Alesha Wilbanks competed in the horse evaluation contest. Their contest is unique as they judge classes of horses standing on halter, and also performance classes of horses in western pleasure, hunter under saddle, and hunter hack. While Hannah and Alesha were new to the contest and judging, Chantel and Mercedes were back for a third and final time to try to make the stage in the top three teams. Previous experience was on their side as they brought home a State FFA Horse Judging Championship, and Chantel was high individual overall in the contest!

Keri Crum, Mack Mitchell, Whitney Shipman, and Sayde Turner represented the livestock evaluation team. Their contest is complex as they judge three species of livestock; sheep, swine, and beef, while taking into consideration performance data in some of the classes. After a second place finish in 2010, the team had the goal to improve one spot in the placings this year. They met their goal with a State FFA Livestock Judging Championship, and Sayde Turner lead the way as high individual overall!

Both of the State Champion Teams have qualified to represent MS at the National FFA Career Development Events Competitions held in conjunction with the 84th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN, October 19-22.