COTTONWOOD - Four equestrians from Lakeview FFA will compete at the State FFA horse judging competition April 26 at the University of Minnesota St. Paul campus after winning the trip at the Region 5 FFA contest in October.
Christina Olson, Bailee Olson, Laura Olson and Chelsey Johnson got some practice in before the big show by competing at the UMC Horse Judging Invitation on March 26 in Crookston, where they placed fifth out of 15 teams that included 4-H, FFA and college judging teams, said FFA adviser Bonita Oestreich.
"I feel fifth out of 15 teams was a great accomplishment," Oestreich said. "At the UMC contest, the girls had to judge four performance classes which they have never done before because performance classes are not a part of the 4-H or FFA contests they have judged in the past.
"The region competition is very competitive," Oestreich said. "Last year the girls took first in regions. Even though they took sixth place this year, they were only points away from the first-place team."
If the team wins state, it's on to Nationals in October.
"It's my first year judging for FFA, so I think it's exciting we get to go to state," said Johnson, a freshman.
"It's pretty exciting," said Christina Olson, a senior. "The three of us have been to state for horse. It was fun last year. Excited to go again this year and show Chelsey around."
"It was a really good experience last year, so I'm excited to go this year," said Laura Olson, a sophomore and Christina's sister. "Every competition is different so I'm excited to see what they have for us this year."
"We went last year, so we figured out what it's like, so hopefully, we have an idea of what's coming," said Bailee Olson, a junior.
Bailee Olson took sixth place in performance judging and ninth place in oral reasons at the UMC competition, while Christina Olson was 11th in halter and Laura Olson was 14th in halter.
"In halter, you judge the horse on conformity, how it looks," Christina Olson said. "For performance, you judge the riding class, how the horse and rider perform. In hunter hack, jumping is what you judge on. Western is Western saddle and you judge more on cadence."
"Oral reason is explaining to the person why you judged that way," Bailee Olson said.
"All four girls judge horses during the summer through 4-H and several of the girls show as well," Oestreich said. "They have learned how to judge horses because of 4-H. I know very little about horses myself so the girls coach themselves for the FFA horse contest. All the girls are very knowledgeable and dedicated."
"We went to Nationals for 4-H," Christina Olson said, adding they have judged in 4-H for three or four years.
Johnson has been around horses her whole life. She knew how to ride, but her parents encouraged her to judge, as well, thinking it would make her more knowledgeable if she wanted to buy a horse later.
"Now I really like it," she said.
"Christina started the whole horse thing in our family when she got one," Laura Olson said. "I got insanely jealous. Just recently got my horse and now I'm riding with everybody."
"I started getting interested in horses before I owned one," Christina Olson said. "After I got one, my interest just grew, so I got involved in things - horse judging in 4-H and it grew into FFA."
Bailee Olson also started the horse craze in her family.
"We got a Shetland pony when I was like 3," she said. "The Shetland pony had a disease with her hooves and I wanted to ride more, so I kept persisting for another horse.
"Then my mom got into riding," she said. "My little sister was just adopted from China - she's 7 - she's getting into riding. My brothers like four-wheelers more than horses and Dad does the 'ground stuff,' too."
As much as they love horses, none of the girls is really considering it as a career, "but I always want to have horses," said Christina Olson and the others agreed.
