To say that 2020 has posed challenges would be an understatement. Life as we knew it was disrupted by COVID-19. However, Nebraska Extension continued its mission of adapting and meeting the needs of clients.

In order to continue providing learning opportunities for youth, Nebraska Extension presented the annual Youth Crop Scouting Competition, which was conducted virtually this summer.

The program featured University of Nebraska-Lincoln specialists and educators providing online visuals or scenarios where youth teams identified specimens and provided a diagnosis and recommendation.

Four teams participated in the 2020 event, which was sponsored by the Nebraska Independent Crop Consultant Association.

Receiving first place and a cash prize of $500 was the Colfax County 4-H team coached by Aaron Nygren. Team members were Logan Nelson, Austin Steffensmeier, RJ Bayer, Jestin Bayer and Eliza Bailey.

Second place went to Kornhusker Kids #1 with Matthew Rolf, Payton Schiller, Kaleb Hasenkamp and Levi Schiller. The team's sponsor was Chris Schiller, and the team received $250.

Third place with a $100 cash award went to Kornhusker Kids #2, with Ethan Kreikemeier, James Rolf, Landon Hasenkamp and Ian Schiller.

Also participating was Arlington FFA, which consisted of Brooke Hilgenkamp, Kyle Quinn and Cassidy Arp, with Jill Hensley as their team advisor.

Also new this year were two online sessions of "Ask an Agronomist," where Nebraska Extension agronomists and specialists presented basic information that could be a part of the competition, which allowed more interaction between the judges and participants.

An online regional competition was held among Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and Kentucky teams. A team of Levi Schiller, Kaleb Hasenkamp, James Rolf, Landon Hasenkamp and Ian Schiller of the Kornhusker Kids 4-H Club from Cuming County represented Nebraska in the competition.

For more information on the Youth Crop Scouting Competition, contact Brandy VanDeWalle at [email protected] or visit cropwatch.unl.edu/youth.

VanDeWalle is a Nebraska Extension educator.

Source: University of Nebraska Extension, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.