Fredricktown FFA excels at Mt. Gilead event

Local students achieve top rankings in livestock, equine, and wildlife competitions

Group of students outside a building in Mt. Gilead.

Members of the Fredericktown FFA Livestock Judging team, Nash Stull, left, Austin Robinson, CJ Dickerson, Kendal Grubb, Kellen Algire, Jordyn Neighbarger, Gage Robinson, Allissya Dugan, Lane Dugan, and Austin Frazier, participated in the Mt. Gilead Invitational recently. The team finished 25th overall.

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Published March 12, 2026 - 9:12 a.m. Modified March 17, 2026 - 6:42 p.m.

On Feb. 21, the Fredricktown FFA chapter sent 15 members to Mt. Gilead to participate in various Career Development Events (CDEs), which included General Livestock Judging, Equine Management, and Wildlife Management. All teams showed a strong start for this first invitational of the year.

Three students pose in front of a school display. — The Fredericktown FFA Wildlife Management team, Braylen Stone, left, Kyle Russell and Emberly Hines, participated in the Mt. Gilead Invitational where they placed sixth.

In the General Livestock CDE, members must analyze groups of livestock and place them from the best in the class to the worst. They take notes on the animals and participate in a keep-cull class where they choose which females to retain based on physical characteristics and age. Finally, participants answer questions based on their notes from four specific classes.

The team secured an impressive 25th-place finish out of 55 competing teams. Team leaders included Allissya Dugan (79th), Kellen Algire (127th), Lane Dugan (137th), and Jordyn Neighbarger (138th) as individuals. Other participating members were Kendal Grubb, Nash Stull, Austin Frazier, Austin Robinson, Carl Dickerson, and Gage Robinson.

Two young women with clipboards in front of a white wall. — Raegan Blanchard, left, and Lily Hambleton, members of the Fredericktown FFA, finished 16th in the Equine event at the Mt. Gilead Invitational.

In Equine Management, members judge performance classes, halter classes, and hay quality, and identify various types of tack equipment. The "small but mighty" team placed 16th out of 26 teams. Raegan Blanchard led the charge with a 16th-place finish, followed by Lilly Hambleton at 51st out of 82 individuals.

Finally, the Wildlife Management CDE requires students to identify different Ohio wildlife species and solve economic problems related to conservation. The Fredricktown team of three middle school students placed sixth out of 14 teams. Individual results included Kyle Russell placing 11th, Braylen Stone placing 22nd, and Emberly Hines placing 43rd out of 44 individuals.

For those interested in following the results of the Fredricktown FFA and all other chapters across the state throughout the year, official scoring can be found at JudgingCard.com. By selecting the State of Ohio, the public can view the latest updates for all FFA contests.