K-State senior Ashley Chandler (Neodesha, Kansas) inspects a plant sample during the identification porton of the national spring crops judging contest. | Download this photo
K-State nabs national wins in crops judging, knowledge bowl
Crops team tops 22 others for 15th win in 26 years
At a glance: The Kansas State University crops judging team continued a successful run at the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture judging conference recently, capturing its 15th title in the past 26 years of the spring competition.
More information: Rachel Veenstra, rveenstra@ksu.edu
Related: K-State Crops Judging Team (Department of Agronomy)
May 10, 2024
K-State Research and Extension news
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Kansas State University crops judging team continued a successful run at the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture judging conference recently, capturing its 15th title in the past 26 years of the spring competition.The team also posted a first: They placed first in the knowledge bowl competition, marking its first-ever win in that separate contest.
Landon Trout, a junior from Scott City, Kansas was the individual national champion of the crops contest, capturing individual wins in three categories – laboratory practice, agronomic exam and math practical – and second place in another – plant and seed identification.
At right: 2024 K-State crops judging team | Download photo
K-State seniors Ashley Chandler (Neodesha, Kansas) and Renae Sinclair (Alamosa, Colorado) placed third and fourth, respectively. Chandler was second in exam and math.
K-State beat 22 teams for the win in crops judging. Iowa State was the team runner-up and the University of Wisconsin placed third.
Other members of K-State’s crops judging team are Quinten Bina (Pilsen, Kansas); Leno Caldieraro (Greenville, Illinois); Carson Orpin (Canton, Kansas); and Molly Kane (Paola, Kansas).
In the knowledge bowl, K-State beat the University of Wisconsin-River Falls for the national title, while West Texas A&M was third. K-State lost an early round match, but rallied through the consolation rounds to win the double-elimination contest.
Knowledge bowl questions cover many areas of agriculture, including crop and soil science, animal science, economics and agricultural mechanics. Chandler was the team captain; Trout, Caldieraro, Sinclair and Isaac Nelson (Shawnee, Kansas) were the other team members.
The NACTA judging conference capped the 2024 spring season for K-State’s crops team. Earlier in the season, K-State won the NACTA regional contest in Curtis, Nebraska; and the Southern Plains contest in Hutchinson. Last year, the team won the NACTA fall conference national title – its 32nd win in that contest.
Additional crops team members include Carissa Sohm (Rolla, Kansas); Lakin Giager (Parsons, Kansas); Ryleigh Carr (Ault, Colorado); Ashlynn Hartman (Pawnee City, Nebraska); Faith Winkelmann (Seward, Nebraska); Benton Kerr (Manhattan, Kansas); Monica Short (Claflin, Kansas) and Jenson Schoenfeld (Oakley, Kansas).
The team is coached by K-State assistant professor of crop science Rachel Veenstra, who is assisted by agronomy instructor Sarah Frye.
More information about K-State’s Department of Agronomy and the crops judging team is available online. Those wishing to support K-State’s crops judging team can do so through the KSU Foundation, ksufoundation.org/give/cropsteam.
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K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county extension offices, experiment fields, area extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.ksre.ksu.edu. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.