FFA members from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska will showcase their agronomy knowledge on September 15 at the 2022 Regional High School Crop Scouting Competition, hosted by Purdue University.
To qualify for the regional competition, students must first compete in crop scouting competitions in their respective states, with the top two teams from each state invited to compete at the regional level.
“At the state level, teams of students gather to compete in a one-day event where they put their crop scouting abilities and integrated pest management knowledge to the test,” says Maya Hayslett, crop sciences youth education specialist at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “Before the competition, students prepare by learning about diseases, disorders and insects that can impact crops like soybeans and corn while also focusing on weed identification and responsible pesticide use.”
Agriculture industry professionals judge the teams’ performances. Answering questions accurately is important but so are the teams’ professionalism, communication skills and ability to work together as a cohesive unit.
While the state and regional events have a similar format and flow, the regional tests are more challenging and require a more thorough, comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.
“We’ll have six or seven different stations that teams will rotate through during the competition,” says Corey Gerber, clinical engagement associate professor in Purdue University’s agronomy department. “There may be a station where students are asked to calculate yield estimates for corn, for example, and another station where the questions focus on entomology, and they’ll need to identify different insects. Sometimes they’ll be provided with resources from which they can pull information, but in other instances, they’ll only be able to use the knowledge they came with.”
Both Hayslett and Gerber agree that, win or lose, students walk away with valuable skills that will likely benefit them in their future careers.
“Crop scouting competitions give students the opportunity to grow their critical-thinking skills,” Gerber says. “They’re presented with a problem, and they have to decide how to solve it — that’s something they’ll need to do in any career they choose, whether or not it’s in agriculture. These events are also wonderful opportunities for students to develop and hone their leadership skills alongside their peers.”
Interested in competing in crop scouting? An agronomy career development event (CDE), sponsored by Bayer and Nutrien Ag Solutions, is a great place to begin building your knowledge base.
