ECC Horse Judging Team earns Reserve Champion honors
Tuesday / May 3, 2016
From left, Kaylyn Kucera, Hannah Nelson, Autumn Bright, and Jane Hoffmann.
The Ellsworth Community College horse judging team traveled recently to Minnesota and Texas, bringing home Reserve Champion honors from the competitions in both states. Team members include Jane Hoffmann of Deloit IA, Hannah Nelson of Plymouth MN, Kaylyn Kucera of Madison NE, and Autumn Bright of Crown Point IN; they are coached by ECC Equine Associate Professor Megan Gogerty.
The team participated in the North American Colleges & Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) contest at the University of Minnesota in Crookston MN, April 14-16, earning Reserve Champion honors. The team placed 2nd in Team Halter, 2nd in Team Reasons, 2nd in Team Performance, and 2nd Overall. Individually, Hoffmann placed 2nd in High Individual Overall, 1st in High Individual Halter, and 2nd in High Individual Reasons. Nelson placed 4th in High Individual Overall and 1st in High Individual Reasons. Kucera placed 4th in High Individual Reasons.
At the North Central Texas College (NCTC) spring contest in Gainsville TX on April 19, the team also received Reserve Champion honors after placing 2nd in Team Overall, 2nd in Team Performance, 2nd in Team Reasons, and 5th in Team Halter. Individually, Hoffmann placed 5th in High Individual Halter, 6th in High Individual Performance, and 7th in High Individual Overall. Nelson placed 10th in High Individual Reasons and 9th in High Individual Overall. Kucera placed 10th in High Individual Performance.
The team will host an Iowa FFA Horse Judging Contest May 12 at the Ellsworth Equestrian Center in Iowa Falls; they anticipate more than 250 FFA members from across the state to participate.