UW-Platteville squad captures first top finish at national agriculture competition

A UW-Platteville team has captured top honors in horticulture at a premier national agriculture competition for the first time.

Seven students studying subjects ranging from environmental horticulture to agribusiness traveled to Heartland Community College in April along with coach Michael Compton to compete in the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Annual Judging Conference. Students from four- and two-year colleges compete in hands-on agriculture-related activities in teams and individually. 

The UW-Platteville team of Luis Avila Vettee, Cora Brooks, Lauren Carlson and Amy Luginbuhl took first in the general knowledge exam, first in plant and tool identification and first in plant quality on the way to an overall first-place finish in horticulture, defeating runner-up West Texas A&M by 63 points to become the first Pioneer team to ever win top honors in horticulture. 

Individually, all seven UW-Platteville students finished in the top 25%. Luginbuhl took third, Martha Guelker fifth, Brooks and Kendra Downing tied for eighth, Carlson took 10th, Jenna Dervis finished 11th and Avila Vette finished 12th. 

Illinois State University in Bloomington hosted the overall event. The horticulture competition was held at Heartland Community College in nearby Normal. 

2026 marked the third time UW-Platteville has competed in horticulture at NACTA. The organization doesn't hold a horticulture competition every year.