Collegiate Crops Team earns honors in national contest

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Collegiate Crops Team earned honors in the 90th annual National American Royal Kansas City Collegiate Crops Contest and the 95th annual National Chicago Collegiate Crops Contest on Nov. 19 and 22, respectively. The team secured third place overall in both contests, adding to a legacy of 51 years of merit.

Team members Allie Bizosky, Anna Hagemann and Jack Lichte placed individually at both contests, while Anna Koehler, Marissa Folkers, Sydney Rider and Bryanna Smith served as alternates. The students were coached by Dawn Lee, Pioneer Greenhouse and Gardens manager and lecturer in the School of Agriculture. Several assistant coaches helped guide the team to success, including Mandi Downing, who placed out at the national crops contest last year and is a graduating senior majoring in soil and crop science; Rich Crow, assistant professor of soil and crop science in the School of Agriculture; and Dr. Roger Higgs, professor emeritus.

The National Collegiate Crops Judging Contest challenges participating students to test their skills in plant and seed identification, commercial grain grading and seed analysis. Students dedicate themselves to two four-hour practices a week to prepare for this contest, beginning the first week of the semester. While these practices are demanding, they are essential to teach students how to evaluate crops for quality, certification, viability and marketing. In the end, the students' demanding work was rewarded for the team this fall.

"I don't know who was more nervous as placings were being announced, my assistant coach Mandi or myself," said Lee. "However, wanting to see the students' facial expressions, we did not let on that their relentless efforts had 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, which will be held in West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas next April."

Six universities participated in the American Royal Kansas City Collegiate Crops Contest, which was held at the National Grain Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The CME Group in Chicago, Illinois, hosted the National Chicago Collegiate Crops Contest, where six universities also competed.

The UW-Platteville team has competed in both contests since 1970, placing third 21 times, second 28 times and first 10 times, achieving All-American status by being in the 95th percentile. Funding for team travel is provided by the Doug and Jean Buhler Undergraduate Travel Impact Grant and by generous donations made by alumni and friends to the UW-Platteville Foundation - Soils and Crops Teams Endowment Fund.

For more information about the UW-Platteville Collegiate Crops Team, contact Dawn Lee at [email protected].