The University of Kentucky is excited to announce its annual High School Crop Scouting Competition, a career-focused contest for students interested in production agriculture. This half-day event occurs July 24 at the UK Research and Education Center (UKREC) at Princeton, part of the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the UK Cooperative Extension Service.

Teams of four to six high school students are invited to showcase their expertise in crop agronomics, pest identification and decision-making processes for improved crop management. The interactive field scouting exercises concentrate on corn, soybeans and tobacco.

Misty Bivens, a LaRue County High School agriculture teacher, has entered a team in the UKREC competition for several years, allowing her students to practice their crop scouting skills.

“My students love working with a team and being able to specialize in their knowledge to help the team succeed,” Bivens said. “It's a contest where students leave and say that it doesn't seem like a contest but more like a learning experience.  This is definitely a great event and UK does an amazing job hosting it.”

Teams will compete for the top three spots and earn cash prizes. The first and second place teams will be eligible for the regional competition.

Space is limited, and only the first nine teams to register will be accepted for the competition. Adult leaders interested in their teams’ participation are asked to register early and before the April 10 deadline. After reaching the maximum number of team slots, additional teams will be placed on a waiting list.

To register, visit https://wkrec.ca.uky.edu/events/ky-high-school-crop-scouting-competition. Registered teams will receive study materials related to the competition.

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Writer: Jennifer Elwell, jennifer.elwell@uky.edu           

The University of Kentucky Research and Education Center (UKREC) at Princeton is proudly celebrating 100 years of advancing agricultural extension, research, education, leadership and service to the Commonwealth. Founded in 1925, UKREC is part of the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, as well as the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station and the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. A vital part of the Princeton community, UKREC’s impact extends across Kentucky and beyond. To mark this milestone, Martin-Gatton CAFE will host a variety of events and training sessions throughout the year, showcasing UKREC’s legacy of excellence and ongoing commitment to UK’s mission of improving lives through teaching, research and extension. 

The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research, education information and other services to individuals and institutions that provide equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.