Kansas state dominates collegiate crops judging arena

By Scout Nelson

Kansas State University has won the national title in collegiate crops judging for the 2023 season, winning at the Kansas City American Royal Collegiate Crops Contest on November 14 and the Chicago Collegiate Crops Contest. This solidifies K-State's position as a leading force in the competitive field, having won 18 of the past 25 annual contests.

At the heart of this success story is junior Renae Sinclair from Alamosa, Colorado, who emerged as the overall individual champion, leading K-State's 1-2-3 sweep. Landon Trout and Quinten Bina, both from Kansas, followed closely in second and third places, respectively.

K-State's dominance extended to all judging categories, including grain seeding, seed analysis, and identification. This comprehensive victory is attributed to the expertise and guidance of advisors like Kevin Donnelly and the dedicated efforts of the students.

The contests involve challenging tasks such as identifying various plant or seed samples and grading grain according to Federal standards, demanding a high level of skill and knowledge from participants. These competitions are not only about winning but also about developing important skills such as attention to detail, teamwork, and professional development in agronomy.

The team, including members like Molly Kane and Joel Bryan, benefited from the coaching of Rachel Veenstra, Sarah Frye, and Donnelly. Their success was supported by various sponsors and resulted in both team and individual scholarships.

This remarkable achievement reflects K-State's commitment to excellence in agricultural education and its ability to nurture some of the brightest minds in the field of agronomy. Raj Khosla, head of K-State’s Department of Agronomy, lauds this success as a testament to the students' knowledge and the quality of education provided at the university.

The contests were supported by various organizations, including Corteva AgriScience, CHS, the American Society of Agronomy, and others, highlighting the collaborative effort in fostering educational excellence in agriculture.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-eugenesergeev