In an impressive and unexpected turn of events, the Peebles High School FFA Poultry Judging team, composed entirely of freshmen, soared to the top of the competition and took home first place in the state, earning themselves a coveted spot at the national competition later this year.

The team, made up of ninth graders Eli Mason, Calen Vogler, Lauren Shreeve and Emily Burns, has drawn widespread attention not just for their victory, but for the maturity, dedication and camaraderie they’ve shown throughout the season.

Team member Calen Vogler explained the process of poultry judging and what makes the experience so engaging. “At each competition we look at carcasses, eggs, and live birds, and we judge based on certain qualities that make each one better than the rest,” Vogler said. “Going

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