Youth Crop Scouting Competition
Nebraska Extension's Youth Crop Scouting Competition is an annual immersive event that provides students with an opportunity to learn the principles of integrated pest management (IPM) for corn and soybeans, while exploring emerging crop scouting technologies and gaining valuable experience for future careers in the ag industry.
Now in its 12th year, the 2026 Competition is sponsored by Nebraska Extension.
Registration
The 2026 competition has concluded. Congratulations to the winners, who will advance to regionals!
Registration for the 2027 competition will open next summer.
2026 Competition Results
Congrats to all participants for their hard work!
First Place: Johnson County 4-H
Second Place: Colfax County 4-H
Third Place: Broken Bow FFA
Participating Team: Arlington FFA
Read about the 2026 Competition
Contact:
Brandy VanDeWalle
Extension Educator
(402) 759-3712
brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu
Faculty Bio
About the Competition
Nebraska Extension strives to recruit the next generation of agronomy professionals by annually conducting the Nebraska Youth Crop Scouting Competition at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center near Mead. During the competition, youth have the opportunity interact with extension staff while scouting fields to identify weeds, diseases, insects and crop growth stages. This competition is a great experience for those wanting to work in many different fields of agriculture, providing a fun competitive environment where youth can receive hands-on learning about all aspects of crop scouting.
Competition Info
Eligibility
4-H members or FFA members who have completed fifth through 12th grades may participate.
Team coaches can be extension faculty/staff, ag teachers, agronomists, or interested community members.
Competition Activities
- A team gaming quiz
- Field stations via zoom (corn/soybean diseases, abiotic/biotic problems, soybean/corn insects, corn/soybean growth staging, weed identification, nutrient management, research, and general scouting)
Please note: The competition is limited to 10 teams. Register early to secure your spot!
Awards
Cash prizes are awarded to the top three teams of the competition:
- First place — $500
- Second Place — $250
- Third Place — $100
Preparing to Compete
- Program Details and Registration Form (PDF)
- "Ask An Agronomist" questions about weeds, diseases, insects and other general scouting information to help them prepare for the competition. View the recording
- Watch an overview of daily events at the Crop Scouting Contest