Topping off another excellent year, the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture’s crops judging team retained its first-place title in the crops contest and added the top spot in precision agriculture at the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Judging Conference hosted by West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas.
In the extensive crops contest, students tackled questions on crop production, pest control, and soil science; solved real-world agronomic math problems; interpreted lab data and identified diseases, insects, and equipment; and identified 75 crop and weed samples by sight. The contest effectively draws upon certified agronomy standards, comprehensively testing participants’ agronomic knowledge and field-ready skills.
Individual placings from the NCTA crops team were 1st – Leah Schutz, Elwood; 4th – Sean Lucas, Bailey, Colorado; 5th – Owen Harb, Grand Island; 6th – Jay Mintling, Hayes Center; and 8th – Delany Salm, Kendall, Wisconsin.
Coach and Agronomy Professor Brad Ramsdale said, “The crops’ contest was again a wonderful learning experience that challenged students in the diverse knowledge set required of a certified crop adviser.”
The Precision Agriculture competition tests participants’ expertise in the latest technologies, problem-solving skills, and practical crop and livestock management applications.
The NCTA precision agriculture team placed first with the competitors Tyler Keener, Delany Salm, Leah Schutz, and Jay Mintling.
In keeping with NCTA’s focus on student industry experiences, Ramsdale coordinated additional stops during the trip, said, “The team experienced some excellent agriculture tours that included McCarty Dairy, a 10,000 head operation near Rexford, Kansas; Quien Sabe Feedlot, and Quarterway Sustainable Cotton in the Texas Panhandle. West Texas also provided the opportunity for some hiking in the Paula Duro and Capstone Rock canyons.”
PIctured at top is the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture’s crop’s team at NACTA contest (from left): Delany Salm, Kendell, Wisconsin; Jay Mintling, Hayes Center; Owen Harb, Grand Island; Kaden Day, McCook; Tyler Keener, Mitchell; Leah Schutz, Elwood; Sean Lucas, Bailey, Colorado; and Laramie Frear, Wood River. (Courtesy photo.)
