The NDSU Agronomy Club and Horticulture and Forestry Club won team and individual awards at regional and national North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Judging Competitions this spring.

The Agronomy Club placed third in the regional crop judging contest held March 25 at Kansas State University. The team moved on to compete at the national contest in April at Crookston, Minnesota, where they placed fourth. Team members in both contests were Kyle Aasand, Jodi Boe, Brandon Breckheimer, Bethany Christensen, Andy Haugen and Justin Zahradka. Boe also placed fifth in individual overall.

Other Agronomy Club students also competing in the national crop judging contest were Bethany Erickson, Megan Jones, Taylor Kemper, Nolan Rockstad and Elizabeth Rongen.

The Horticulture and Forestry Club team also competed at the organization’s national judging conference for the first time and took second place overall in the horticulture contest. Team members were Anne Gatzke, Connor Hagemeyer, Torie Jones, Nick Rajtar and Andrew Scheldorf.

In addition, Hagemeyer and Scheldorf took home individual awards. Hagemeyer placed second overall and first in the tool and equipment competition, while Scheldorf placed third overall and first in the general knowledge test.

The Agronomy Club is advised by Kirk Howatt, associate professor of plant sciences, and the Horticulture and Forestry Club is advised by Harlene Hatterman-Valenti, professor of plant sciences, and Todd West, associate professor of plant sciences.

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