Taylor students place in Columbia, Lafayette Conservation District contests

Taylor students Beau Emerson (left) and Garrett Ingle each placed third in Forestry Judging and Land Judging, respectively, at a recent event held by the Columbia and Lafayette County Conservation District.
Taylor students Beau Emerson (left) and Garrett Ingle each placed third in Forestry Judging and Land Judging, respectively, at a recent event held by the Columbia and Lafayette County Conservation District.

Over 120 Arkansas students competed in the annual Judging Contest hosted by the Columbia and Lafayette County Conservation Districts held at the Columbia County Fairgrounds on Friday, February 7.

Seventeen schools brought Forestry and Land teams. Engraved wood plaques from Genoa Central FFA and customized clipboards designed by Laura Blakely were presented to the three highest scoring teams and individuals. After the contest, students, teachers, and volunteers were treated to lunch sponsored by Columbia County Farm Bureau and Farm Credit of Western Arkansas.

In the Forestry Judging contest, Harmony Grove placed first, Hermitage placed second and Taylor placed third. Hope Cheatham from Harmony Grove was the high-point individual for the forestry judging contest. Madison McGhee of Hermitage placed second and Beau Emerson of Taylor and Alan McGhee of Hermitage tied for third.

In the Land Judging contest, Taylor placed first. Dierks’ team two placed second and Dierks’ team one placed third. Braxton McGhee from Ouachita and Kaden Helms from Dierks tied for the high-point individual for the land judging contest. Jaden Smith of Foreman was second and Garrett Ingle of Taylor placed third.

The Columbia County Conservation District is governed by a board of five Columbia County landowners who are familiar with the conservation challenges in Columbia County.

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