By Scout Nelson
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Collegiate Crops Team earned third place in the National American Royal Kansas City Collegiate Crops Contest on Nov. 19 and the National Chicago Collegiate Crops Contest on Nov. 22. These contests mark another milestone in the team’s 51-year tradition of success.
The competitions challenged students in plant and seed identification, commercial grain grading, and seed analysis. Rigorous twice-weekly practices honed their expertise, ensuring readiness for the demanding contests. These sessions emphasized evaluating crops for quality, certification, viability, and marketing.
Six universities participated in each event. The Kansas contest was hosted at the National Grain Center, while the Chicago contest took place at the CME Group. Both provided platforms for students to demonstrate their agricultural expertise.
The team’s coach, Dawn Lee, praised the students’ dedication, saying, “Their relentless efforts paid off. I look forward to continuing to work with the students as they prepare for the annual North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Judging Conference in Texas next April.”
Since 1970, the UW-Platteville team has consistently excelled, achieving All-American status by ranking in the 95th percentile. They have placed third 21 times, second 28 times, and first 10 times.
Team travel was made possible through the Doug and Jean Buhler Undergraduate Travel Impact Grant and generous donations to the UW-Platteville Foundation’s Soils and Crops Teams Endowment Fund.
The team’s achievements reflect a commitment to excellence in agricultural education and crop sciences, inspiring future participation in collegiate competitions. For more information, contact Dawn Lee at leedaw@uwplatt.edu.
Photo Credit:gettyimages-eugenesergeev
Categories: Kansas, Crops