Students competed in the Ranching & Wildlife Poster Board and Video Competitions at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on Saturday, March 7.

For the contest, students selected a Texas wildlife species or management practice to feature in an informational poster or a 1 to 3-minute video. Each submission was judged by Ranching & Wildlife Committee members, and the top 12 in each category were invited to the competition at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Following the judging, the top 12 submissions were announced. All finalists received a plaque, a gift certificate for a pair of Ariat boots and a cash prize. FFA chapters and 4-H clubs were also eligible to receive plaques and cash prizes for having the most entries and finalists.

The video division was won by Colton Kaase of Bellville FFA with his video, “Restoring Bobwhite Quail Habitats.” Reagan Cooper, a junior in Fulshear FFA, won the poster board division with her poster, “Prescribed Burning.”

Reagan said she believes that the most valuable part of the Ranching & Wildlife Contests are the opportunities to practice giving presentations in a high-pressure situation.

“I think that these contests just really help me with my public speaking skills and developing those relationships with people so later on I have those connections,” Reagan said.

Ingram FFA agricultural educator Jessica Reeves loves that the competition is focused on Texas wildlife.

“It gives those kids that are really passionate about wildlife the opportunity to participate in something and be successful,” Reeves said. “These are the kids that are going to one day end up changing our wildlife industry.”