By Dawson McDonald
Geneseo FFA Chapter

Last Friday, the Geneseo FFA traveled to Kewanee, IL to compete in the State FFA Horse Judging Career Development Event at Blackhawk College East Campus.
The Geneseo FFA took two teams to the event, one in the Non-Reasons division and one in the Reasons division. In the Non-Reasons division, contestants judged eight classes of horses from the college.
The Non-Reasons team consisted of Kali Herberg, Maycie Sims, Hannah Wildermuth, and Brinnley Coppejans, who brought home silver, placing second in their division in the state! The Reasons division, in which team members evaluated the same set of classes before writing, memorizing, and presenting oral reasons for their placings in two of the classes, also achieved remarkable success, securing first place at the state level!

The team’s individual performances were equally impressive, with Dawsyn McDonald earning second place, Annabelle Betcher finishing third, Bailey Koning securing seventh, and Jacey Gehl placing seventeenth as individuals out of over 300 contestants. The team will have the opportunity to compete at the National contest later this year as a result of their achievement. Congratulations to all!