For the 10th consecutive year, the Blanco FFA Chapter finished in the top 10 schools overall in sweepstakes at The Tarleton State University Invitational Career Development Events in Stephenville on Thursday, March 25. Blanco is the only school in the state that has consistently finished in the top ten sweepstakes rankings each year in what has proven to be the largest judging competition in the world.

Overall this year, Blanco was the only school recognized for placing as a team in four different events, as more than 300 schools from across the state competed in twelve different CDE’s.

Blanco’s Entomology Team, consisting of Caitlyn Gibbons, Brian Roche, Brooks Wyatt, Taylor McCormick, Grady Childress and Taylor Hartman, finished second overall with Caitlyn, Brian, Brooks, Taylor and Grady each winning individual awards for finishing in the top 20 contestants. Also placing second as a team were Tanner Reddout, Lauren Graham, Jared York, David Hostetler and Lacee Hunter in the Land Judging CDE.

Individually, Tanner and Lacee were each recognized on stage as a high individual finishing in the top 20.

Blanco FFA members Kaleigh Anderson, Keaton Dodd, Corey Dowlearn, Grayson Elrod and Mindy Dechert also placed high as a team, finishing second in the Range Competition with Kaleigh, Keaton, and Grayson each placing in the top 20. Finally, Blanco’s Livestock Team of John Pepper, Alex Gustafson, Maggie Dennis, Kylie Leachman, Sam Isenberg, Skylar Itz, Kellam Nabers and Edward Alvarado placed second in the largest event of the day with almost 1,100 contestants judging livestock.

In addition to these four career development events, the Blanco FFA also did well gaining sweepstakes points in Dairy and Horse Judging. Dairy contestants included Lauren Winn, Lindsey Winn, Susannah Campbell, Elise Edmondson, Morgan Lowak, Colton Childress, James Leachman and Britton Wagner. Horse team members were Katelyn Bradfute, Clint Dreyer and TJ Raby.

The Blanco FFA will now begin preparations for upcoming Area VII Judging Contests at Tarleton and Texas A&M with hopes of advancing to State CDE’s at Texas Tech, Tarleton and Texas A&M. Advisors for the Blanco FFA are Felice and Jason Marek.