NCTA crops teams compete at Manhattan

NCTA crops teams compete at Manhattan

Manhattan, Kan. – Curtis Aggie crops judging students were undaunted by a pre-Easter blizzard that hit last week during Spring Break.

When team members who left for their homes on March 18 returned to the Curtis campus of the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture on March 24, they loaded up their vans and headed to Manhattan, Kansas, for the annual K-State Crops Judging Contest.

The team placed 2^nd overall in the 2-year college division. Team members for the K-State contest were sophomores Nolan Breece of Holdrege, Aaron Jensen of Goehner, Dalton Johnson of Gering, and freshmen John Paul Kain of McCook.

Nolan Breece of Holdrege was the top individual overall in the competition and Aaron Jensen of Goehner earned a fourth-place finish.

“They team did very well, which is a reflection of all the hard work they accomplish during practice sessions,” said Dr. Brad Ramsdale, NCTA associate professor of agronomy and crops judging team coach.

“The competition served as another great learning experience for the students as we prepare for the upcoming national competition,” Ramsdale said. The Aggies topped the field last month among the two-year colleges winning first place at the Iowa State University contest.

Individual students compete in four categories, with 60 minutes for completing each section. Four other freshmen also participating in all phases of the contest, but were not eligible for prizes.

First-year competitors were Maggie Brunmeier of Bayard, Kyle Krantz and Brent Thomas, both of Alliance, and Vincent Jones of Kirwin, Kansas.

The next Aggie competition will be at the National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) events, April 14-16 at the University of Minnesota-Crookston.

NCTA also will have students competing in agricultural business management, knowledge bowl and livestock judging competitions.

NCTA’s Aggie Crops Judging team was established in 2010, and has improved its rank and placings each year. For information about NCTA agronomy programs or the crops judging team, see ncta.unl.edu, or contact Dr. Ramsdale at bramsdale2@unl.edu .