Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE- Weeks of practice paid off for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville crops team when they won the Collegiate Crops Contests held in Kansas City, Kan., on Nov. 18 and Chicago on Nov. 22.

This is the 10th time that UWP has placed first in the national contests since teams began competing in 1970. The team consisted of Elizabeth Luedtke of Larson, Matt Wichman of Appleton, Reuben Currier of Kewaunee with alternates Greg Bopes of Maquoketa, Iowa; Kyle Hoppman of Cuba City; and Sara Delp of Mount Carroll, Ill. The team was coached by Roger Higgs, UWP professor emeriti, and Kris Mahoney, UWP assistant professor of soil and crop science.

"Overjoyed is an understatement. We won by nearly 200 points in Kansas City, so we knew we had a good shot at Chicago. Then winning Chicago was icing on the cake. We had worked hard for both wins and I was relieved we had done it," said Currier.

The contests were divided in three categories: grain grading, which is recognizing crop products for the market value and knowing defects that reduce quality; plant and seed identification; and seed analysis, which is determining the value of seed for planting or market.

"Plant identification was a big positive of the crops team. Going into an agronomy field, this something I really need to know. I have already used this in my internship and other jobs," said Currier.

In addition to the team placing first, Luedtke placed second individually in Kansas City and third individually in Chicago. Wichman placed fourth individually in Kansas City and ninth individually in Chicago and Currier placed fifth individually at both contests.

"There's a lot of pride ... It's nice for this university to go and compete against the heavy hitters in ag and be recognized at that level," said Mahoney.

"It was exciting. We did what we wanted and practiced for so long," said Luedtke.

The team received more that a first-place award. They also gained skills that made them better students and better prepared for a career in crops.

"A big thing is time management. What I've learned has been very beneficial in classes, especially ag classes. I got my summer job as a crop scout because of my experience on the crops team," said Luedtke.

I've seen crops team members increase a whole letter grade in some of their classes because they develop their study skills," said Mahoney.

As part of the competition experience, teams toured companies and cultural sites in both cities. In Kansas City, the UWP team toured AgCo, a bakery, Federal Grain Inspection Service and the Kansas City Board of Trade. They also toured the Chicago Board of Trade and the Arch, Anheuser-Busch, and the Lincoln Museum in St. Louis.

"Going on the tours makes you more well-rounded and knowledgeable in other fields. I met people in different fields of agriculture that I knew nothing about and had never seen," said Luedtke.

All students interested in crops are welcome to join the crops team. Students do not have to major in soils and crops or agriculture.

Anyone wanting more information about the UWP crops team may contact Mahoney at (608) 342-1363 or mahoneykr@uwplatt.edu.

Contact: Kris Mahoney, assistant professor, soil and crop science, (608) 342-1363, mahoneykr@uwplatt.edu Written by: Krystle Kurdi, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, kurdik@uwplatt.edu

Labels: collegiate crops contest