The University of Nebraska–Lincoln Crops Judging Team includes Justin Zoucha (front row, from left), Dalton Johnson, Rodger Farr, Samantha Teten, Katie Jo Steffen, Luke Welborn, Coach Elizabeth Christenson, Coach Adam Striegel (back row, from left), Aaron Doxson, Jarad Stander, Kolby Grint, Chad Lammers, Caleb Eckel and Alec Meyer.
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln Crops Judging Team once again took top honors at the Collegiate Crops Contest held at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture March 8 in Curtis, Nebraska.
The team placed second overall in the four-year division losing narrowly to Kansas State. Nebraska’s team includes senior agronomy majors Rodger Farr, Kolby Grint and Samantha Teten, and junior agronomy major Justin Zoucha.
Teten also placed fifth overall as an individual.
This contest marks the tenth consecutive crops judging contest in which Nebraska has placed in the top three in the four-year university division.
With over 100 participants, NCTA’s contest was well attended by four two-year colleges and nine four-year universities with schools traveling from as far away as Wisconsin and Texas.
Designed to prepare students for a future career in agronomy, the crops judging contest included an agronomic exam, a math exam, a plant and seed identification exam and a lab practical. The agronomic exam covered general agronomic knowledge. The math exam covered mathematical problems related to agronomy. The plant and seed identification exam tested students' knowledge of 140 crops and weeds species. The lab practical included questions on various agronomy related disciplines such as weed science, entomology and plant pathology.
Brad Ramsdale, associate professor of agronomy at NCTA, coordinated the regional crop contest. This contest serves to prepare students for the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture national competitions to be held April 12 at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky.
Adam Striegel, Doctor of Plant Health student and agronomy graduate research assistant, serves as the Crops Judging Team coach. Elizabeth Widder, an agronomy master's student, is assistant coach. Students interested in joining the university crops judging team are encouraged to contact Striegel.