Source: Kevin Donnelly, 785-532-5402, kjd@k-state.edu
Photo available. Contact media@k-state.edu or 785-532-6415.
News release prepared by: Katie Starzec, kstarzec@k-state.edu

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

K-STATE CROPS TEAM WINS NATIONAL TITLE

MANHATTAN -- For the eighth time in the last 11 years, the Kansas State University Crops Team won first place in the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture national crops contest.

This year's event was April 17 at the Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster, Ohio, and featured 17 teams from two- and four-year schools.

K-State placed first in the laboratory practical, math practical, and plant and seed identification parts of the contest, and second in the agronomic quiz.

The seed and plant identification requires contestants to learn more than 250 plant and seed samples. In the lab practical, competitors identify insects, diseases, weeds, fertilizers, crop and forage products, and field and laboratory equipment. They also determine crop growth stages, interpret pesticide labels or seed tags, evaluate crop production problems and describe soil properties.

The agronomic quiz evaluated knowledge of crop production and management; crop physiology and breeding; soils and tillage; soil fertility; crops harvesting and storage; weeds; insects; and diseases. The math practical includes equipment calibration and other agronomic calculations.

Team coach is Kevin Donnelly, professor of agronomy.

Students competing on the K-State team and their contest placings include:

Darrin Seiwert, senior in agronomy, Conway Springs, second overall, third in math and fourth in both identification and agronomic quiz; Aaron Widmar, sophomore in agronomy, Franklin, competed as an alternate; Heath Kinser, senior in agricultural technology management, Hugoton, seventh overall, fourth in math, eighth in identification and 10th in lab; Brian Lee, senior in agronomy, Leavenworth, 11th overall, sixth in lab, eighth in math; and ninth in agronomic quiz; and Jared Unrau, senior in agricultural technology management, Newton, third overall, first in identification, third in lab practical and 10th in math.

From out of state: Allen Kampschnieder, senior in agronomy, Howells, Neb., was third overall, third in identification, fifth in math and seventh in agronomic quiz.