Dixie FFA students present wild-horse policy teaser to Ivins City Council

A group of Dixie FFA students on March 20 briefed the Ivins City Council on wild-horse management and public‑land policy, arguing the issue merits more public attention and legislative review.

Dave Gust introduced the students and said they had been invited to Washington, D.C., to present the topic to congressional staff. Mackenzie (student narrator) summarized the history and the 1971 Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act and framed three central themes for the council: the use of helicopter roundups and removals, environmental impacts on rangeland, and the fiscal costs of long‑term holding.

Student speakers described contested facts and tradeoffs: one student said roundups are controversial but supported by some as a tool that fits the act’s authority, while another representing humane‑society views criticized roundup methods as inhumane and argued for reforms. The students also cited a range-wide figure — roughly 73,000 wild horses on the range in the 10 Western states — and said that long‑term holding of excess animals costs taxpayers about $33,000 per horse over its lifetime.

Council members thanked the students and asked how to see the full presentation. Haley Covington (student) said the group will present the full program at Dixie High School on April 7 at 7 p.m. and offered to distribute materials and arrange invitations to the mayor and council.

Why it matters: The presentation framed several policy options — from fertility control to changes in how federal agencies manage roundups — and surfaced both local environmental concerns and potential state/federal legislative responses that residents could track.

The council did not take action on the presentation; staff and the students said questions could be asked after the full April presentation.