75th Annual National Land & Range Judging Contest Coming to El Reno
Photo courtesy of okconservation.org
Route 66 is not just a connection to tourism and economic development, it’s also a connection to the future for young people from around the country.
The nation’s top 4-H and FFA students will put their expertise to the test by evaluating land for farming, range management, and home development. The National Land and Range Judging Contest presents real-world challenges to showcase skills that directly connect to future careers in environmental management, natural resource conservation, agriculture, and construction. An anticipated 1000 4-H and FFA students and over 200 coaches from 37+ states will attend the event and compete.
The official contest site remains a secret until contest day to prevent any unfair advantage. Each year, a different farm, ranch, company, organization, or agency hosts the contest site on its land near the Oklahoma City metro area. While practice site locations are known in advance, the national competition site is revealed the morning of May 7.
“The El Reno Convention and Visitors Bureau are proud to support the National Land and Range Judging Contest,” said Lyndsay Bayne, Public Information & Marketing Manager for the City of El Reno. “Bringing community and national events like this to El Reno is what our sponsorship program is all about, boosting tourism and economic development for both locals and visitors.” The city awarded the event $3,500 from their local hotel/motel tax fund, the maximum amount available.
“One of the joys of Route 66 is how it weaves with the land and invites people to connect with the natural environment,” said Oklahoma Route 66 Association President Rhys Martin. “If any travelers are coming through and want to learn a little more about how the next generation is learning to handle the challenges of future climate conditions, this is a perfect opportunity.”
The event takes place at the Canadian County Expo Center & Event Center on May 7th, with practices scheduled for May 5-6.
