By Blake Jackson
The University of Kentucky is hosting its annual High School Crop Scouting Competition on July 24th at the UK Research and Education Center (UKREC) in Princeton.
This event, organized by the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the UK Cooperative Extension Service, is a career-focused contest for students interested in production agriculture.
Teams of four to six high school students will demonstrate their expertise in crop agronomics, pest identification, and crop management decision-making.
The competition features interactive field scouting exercises focused on corn, soybeans, and tobacco.
Misty Bivens, an agriculture teacher from LaRue County High School, has brought teams to the competition for several years.
"My students love working with a team and being able to specialize in their knowledge to help the team succeed," Bivens said. "It's a contest where students leave and say that it doesn't seem like a contest but more like a learning experience. This is definitely a great event and UK does an amazing job hosting it."
Teams will compete for cash prizes, with the top three teams receiving awards. The first and second place teams will advance to the regional competition.
Space is limited, and only the first nine teams to register will be accepted. Adult leaders are encouraged to register their teams early, before the April 10th deadline. Additional teams will be placed on a waiting list once the maximum number of slots is reached.
To register, visit https://wkrec.ca.uky.edu/events/ky-high-school-crop-scouting-competition. Registered teams will receive study materials to prepare for the competition.
Photo Credit: university-of-kentucky
Categories: Kentucky, Crops, Education