Iowa Youth Crop Scouting Competition. Fifty youth in grades 7-12 traveled from all four corners of the state to the Field Extension Education Lab in Boone to test their integrated pest management skills through several tasks and challenges.
The event, hosted by the Iowa State University Integrated Pest Management Program and Iowa 4-H Youth Development, provided youth with the opportunity to work with and learn from Iowa State faculty, staff, agronomists and professionals in crop-related careers. The teams prepared months in advance for a chance to win cash prizes and an opportunity to compete with teams from Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Indiana at the Regional Crop Scouting Competition on Sept. 18 at the Eastern Nebraska Extension and Education Center.
Field stations focused on crop management of corn and soybeans and included topics on insects, weeds, diseases, abiotic injury, pesticide use and sprayer calibration, cover crops, growth stages and crop morphology. Specialists tested each team’s knowledge on the topic and provided feedback and discussion on their answers. In addition, youth were given a written test to evaluate their understanding of IPM principles and best practices to ensure individual team member mastery.
During the day, youth also enjoyed lunch and team-building activities so teens who traveled from all over the state could get to know each other. There was a delay in the competition due to stormy weather, but all participants were able to stay safe and dry in the building and complete the competition once the storm had passed.
Source: iastate.edu
Photo Credit: istock-dusanpetkovic
Categories: Iowa, Education