State range judging set for Chase County in September

    More than 500 students from across Nebraska will converge on Imperial Wednesday, Sept. 26, for the state range judging contest.
    This marks the 64th year of the contest, which is sponsored by the Nebraska section of the Society for Range Management (SRM).
    The contest is a joint effort between SRM, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Nebraska natural resources districts (NRDs) and Nebraska Extension.
    SRM conducts six different district contests prior to the state contest. The district contest for Chase County range judgers will be held Sept. 18 by the Tri-Basin NRD.
    Kristin Dickinson, NRCS  district conservation in Sidney, chairs the contest for SRM.
    District Conservationist Andy Keep in the Chase County NRCS office said the local staff will select the location for the contest. In addition, they select a practice site that is available to students the day prior to the contest.
    Dickinson said contestants must identify 24 different range plants and grasses, along with six characteristics. Some of these include whether the species is native or introduced and whether it’s a warm season or cool season plant.

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