By Andi Anderson
On July 24, 2025, youth teams from across Iowa participated in the Iowa Youth Crop Scouting Competition, an exciting event that challenged participants in pest management, crop production, and agronomy knowledge.
Hosted by the Iowa State University Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program and Iowa 4-H Youth Development, the competition attracted eleven youth teams in grades 7-12, who gathered at Wyffels Hybrids in Ames to test their skills in the field.
The competition’s eight field stations focused on a wide range of topics critical to crop management, such as insect identification, weed control, disease management, abiotic injury, pesticide use, sprayer calibration, cover crops, and crop growth stages.
Participants also learned about modern scouting tools, which are essential in integrated pest management (IPM) practices.
Washington County Team demonstrated strong knowledge of cover crops, and Iowa State University faculty and industry professionals served as judges, providing valuable feedback and answering questions from the youth.
The goal of the competition was not only to test participants’ technical skills but also to expose them to potential careers in agriculture and crop management.
This year’s winners included Clayton County Crop Doctors, who took home first place. Clayton County GDUs secured second place, while Washington County Team #1 and Central Plains FFA tied for third place.
Clayton County Radicals finished fourth. The top two teams from Clayton County will advance to the Regional Crop Scouting Competition, which will take place on September 13, 2025, also in Ames.
The competition highlighted the growing importance of hands-on learning in agricultural education, offering youth a platform to engage with professionals, explore career opportunities, and gain practical knowledge.
Maya Hayslett, the competition coordinator, emphasized the value of the conversations between youth and agricultural professionals, showcasing the mutual learning that occurred throughout the event.
“It’s a fun opportunity, and you always learn something new each year,” said Collin Harder, a participant from Pottawattamie County, reflecting on his experience in the competition.
Joe and Suzanne Shirbroun, Karlee and Cole Deitchler, Cassidy Penrod, and Robert Shilling led the top teams from Clayton County, who received cash prizes for their efforts.
Sponsors for the event, including Corteva Agriscience, Wyffels Hybrids, Iowa 4-H Foundation, Syngenta, Iowa Independent Crop Consultants Association, the Iowa Soybean Research Center, the Crop Protection Network, and Environmental Tillage Systems, helped make the event a success, providing both support and prizes for the winning teams.
Photo Credit: iowa-state-university
Categories: Iowa, Education