The Annual Range & Pasture Plant Identification and the Wildlife and Recreation Management Career Development Events were conducted on October 13, 2016. The Freestone County and Anderson-Houston Soil and Water Conservation Districts were Hosts; in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service provided the technical skills for setting up and conducting these events with help from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (Kyle Brunson).
In the Plant ID Contest, participants are asked to identify 20 to 25 plants indigenous to and/or adapted to Freestone County by name as well as various characteristics.
The Wildlife & Recreation Contest consists of four stops, each having its own criteria to determine knowledge of facts related to wildlife and conservation according to the rules and regulations approved by the Texas Education Agency in conjunction with the Texas Agriscience 381 Wildlife and Recreation Management curriculum. The four stops are as follows: Wildlife Habitat & Management; Wildlife Biological Facts & Techniques; Game Laws & Safety; and Plant ID & Food Preferences. 
The Plant ID Contest winners as follows: 1st Place – Randall Navarro, Madisonville FFA; 2nd Place – Casey Corley, Madisonville FFA; and 3rd Place – Ian Vance, Madisonville FFA.
The Wildlife & Recreation Management Contest individual winners were: 1st Place – Lori Massey, Teague FFA; 2nd Place– Randall Navarro, Madisonville FFA; and 3rd Place – Ian Vance, Madisonville FFA.
The Team winners were: 1st Place – Teague FFA (Randall Navarro, Ian Vance, Matthew Longoria & Casey Corley); 2nd Place – Teague FFA Lori Massey, Lawson Allison, Cody Fowler, & Haley Young); and 3rd Place – Center FFA (Dalton Alexander, Zack Fausett, Nate Morris & Kaden LaRock).
Presenting the winners their certificates was NRCS District Conservationist Ben Davis.
Appreciated Sponsors include Anderson-Houston SWCD, SW&S Cattle Company, Caney Creek Ranch, The Donie Bank and Capps True Value & Ag Center.
On behalf of the Freestone County SWCD Board of Directors, and the Anderson-Houston SWCD Board of Directors we would like to thank the following for their participation in this year’s contests: NRCS; Texas Parks & Wildlife.
