Several Nebraska FFA and 4-H members got a head start on pursuing careers in agriculture in 2014. They participated in the Innovative Youth Corn Challenge--now in its third year--which involves teams of farm kids conducting corn research during the growing season.

KORNHUSKER KIDS. The Cuming County team, from left, consisted of Angela Rolf, Levi Schiller, Kaleb Hasenkamp, Matthew Rolf and Payton Schiller. To the far left is Chuck Hibberd, dean and director of Nebraska Extension, and on the far right is Boone McAfee of the Nebraska Corn Board.

The 2014 winning team was from the Fillmore Central FFA chapter, consisting of Adam Hoarty, Garrett Whitley, Tyler O'Conner, Logan Peppard and Aaron Poppert. The team with the highest percent yield increase over their local county average is determined the winner. In earning the $1,000 first-place award, the Fillmore County team tested various corn seeding rates on irrigated ground to determine the optimum rate. Their check plot of 32,000 seeds per acre yielded 253 bushels per acre, while their challenge plot, planted at 38,000, yielded 281 bushels per acre.

Fourteen teams enrolled in 2014, according to Brandy VanDeWalle, an Extension educator located in Geneva and co-project leader. Eight teams completed the project and three were able to glean harvest data from their plots to complete the program, she says. "This past year's storms and considerable replanting affected our youth's ability to complete their projects," she adds.

The Nebraska Corn Board provides financial assistance for the challenge program.

Second-place team overall was the Kornhusker Kids 4-H Club of Cuming County, earning $500 for their efforts. Team members tested two different sources of sulfur--gypsum (calcium sulfate) and ammonium sulfate. The check plot of 167 bushels per acre yielded the highest. The ammonium sulfate treatment produced 164 bushels per acre and gypsum 163 bushels per acre.

EAGLE HUSTLERS: The team from Holt County was comprised of Miles Stagemeyer, left, and his brother Jace.

Third-place team was the Eagle Hustlers 4-H Club in Holt County, which tested a product, called Pervaide, sold by their local fertilizer dealer and developed to reduce compaction. The challenge plot yielded 213 bushels per acre, while the check plot yielded 210 bushels per acre.

"The Youth Corn Challenge challenges 4-H and FFA teams to produce the most economical, highest yielding corn," VanDeWalle says. "Both irrigated and dryland fields are eligible and were scored accordingly."

VanDeWalle says the program is designed to encourage youth to pursue agricultural careers and return to rural Nebraska. Extension faculty, ag education instructors and crop consultants serve as harvest supervisors and assist with data collections.  

FILLMORE CENTRAL FFA: Overall winner in the challenge was the Fillmore Central FFA team, represented by Logan Peppard, left, and Aaron Poppert.

Other awards were handed out recently during a dinner in Lincoln:
•The Data Completion Award, worth $200, went to the Kornhusker Kids 4-H Club.
•The Innovation Award, worth $200, was presented to the Eagle Hustlers 4-H Club.
•The Limited Resource Award went to both the Eagle Hustlers team and Fillmore Central FFA Chapter, which will split the $200 award.

Other teams that completed a project proposal but due to adverse weather or other circumstances, were unable to gather results: They were the Bloomfield FFA 10th grade class, Fox Hill Dunes 4-H Club from Buffalo County and two West Boyd FFA Chapter teams. Each team that completed the challenge received a certificate of recognition and a $50 prize.

Aaron Nygren, Extension educator in Colfax County, and Amy Timmerman, Extension educator in Boyd and Holt counties, are co-leaders of the challenge along with VanDeWalle.