Registration is now open for the University of Kentucky’s inaugural High School Crop Scouting Competition.

The event will take place from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. CDT July 30 at the UK Research and Education Center in Princeton.

Participating teams should consist of four to six high-school students and an adult leader. Agriculture educators, FFA leaders, 4-H adult volunteers, industry representatives and extension agents are encouraged to field a team. The students will compete in hands-on, interactive field scouting exercises in corn and soybeans. They will display their knowledge and decision-making ability in basic agronomics, pest identification and big-picture crop production questions. All teams will receive immediate feedback on their answers.

“We are really excited to bring this competition to Kentucky. These competitions are a great opportunity for the state’s high school students to get hands-on experience in agriculture at UK’s Grain and Forage Center of Excellence,” said Kiersten Wise, UK extension plant pathologist and event organizer. “Participating in these events gives youth a broader knowledge of the challenges that farmers and the agriculture industry face each year.”

The registration deadline is April 1, and registration is limited to the first 10 teams. Once registered, teams will receive study materials to help them prepare for the competition.

The top three teams will receive monetary prizes, and the overall winner will be eligible to compete in the National Crop Scouting Competition.

To register for the competition or questions about the event, email Wise at kiersten.wise@uky.edu.