Innovative Youth Corn Challenge 2.0: Registration Open
The Nebraska Innovative Youth Corn Challenge is approaching its 10th year engaging youth in crop science-based education. The Innovative Youth Corn Challenge (IYCC) was created as a partnership between the Nebraska Corn Board and Nebraska Extension. Since the Innovative Youth Corn Challenge program’s inception in 2012, 74 teams have participated in the program with 37 teams successfully harvesting and analyzing their plot data. A total of 147 youth have participated.
This program continues to evolve and has exciting changes planned for the 2021 growing season with IYCC 2.0. A citizen scientist component will encourage youth to connect with researchers on a real problem facing corn growers and assist in collecting data or designing a tool to solve a real-world problem.
The IYCC 2.0 will also feature an agricultural literacy piece, which will help others understand corn production practices and highlight teams’ efforts. This will allow youth to promote their own work through creative works such as a video or other multimedia tool. Nebraska Extension will execute this evolving, innovative and in-depth program in 2021, which will be the 10th year creating agricultural, science-informed graduates in the agricultural industry.
Prizes for participation in this project include first place —$1,000, second place —$500, third place —$250, “Extra Mile” Award — $200, CORN Communications Award — $200 and completion of the project — $50. In addition, each team receives a crop scouting kit valued at over $200, plot sign and the opportunity to engage with UNL agronomic professionals through “ask an agronomist” sessions.
For more information about this program and to register, go to the Innovative Youth Corn Challenge site. Registration is due Friday, March 25. Contact Brandy VanDeWalle at (402) 759-3712 for details about this program.
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