West Holmes FFA teams place in state dairy, trap shoot competitions

West Holmes FFA students closed the spring competition season with two top-10 state finishes, placing 10th in dairy cattle judging and 9th in trap shoot. For a chapter rooted in Holmes County’s agricultural economy, the results showed more than medals; they showed students can perform under pressure in contests that mirror real workplace skills.

The dairy cattle judging team competed April 24 at The Ohio State ATI, where students had to evaluate animals, compare traits and defend their choices using industry standards. That kind of work demands the same kind of judgment, discipline and technical vocabulary that matter on local farms, in animal care and in agricultural businesses. Ohio FFA describes its career development events as opportunities for students to apply agricultural-education skills in local, state and national competition, and West Holmes’ showing fit that mission. In a statewide association with 30,723 members in 341 chapters, a 10th-place finish gave the chapter a strong benchmark.

The state result followed a busy season of earlier contests that sharpened the same skills. On March 14, West Holmes FFA sent its dairy judging team to Miami Trace and placed 61st in the state and 13th in the district. Madison Ringwalt finished 90th and Mia Spencer placed 117th in a field of 69 teams and 252 individuals. That earlier contest tested the same core abilities, from reading animal structure to working through decisions quickly and accurately.

The chapter also showed range beyond dairy. A separate competition at the ATI Equine Center on Feb. 28 ended with West Holmes earning sixth place. Students there placed dairy cows, took a dairy-industry test, read pedigrees and completed a sire-selection scenario, the kind of hands-on work that builds confidence for careers in livestock production, veterinary support, agribusiness and farm management. The trap shoot team’s 9th-place finish added another layer, rewarding safety, focus and consistency, traits that matter just as much in trades and equipment work as they do in the field.

West Holmes FFA’s spring was not limited to contests. Members also volunteered at the Nashville Fun Fair and Loudonville Equity, and the chapter held meetings to elect new officers and plan events. That mix of competition, service and leadership helps explain why the program remains a pipeline for students headed toward local jobs, college programs and leadership roles across Holmes County.