K-State crops team wins national title, posts record score

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Source: Gerry Posler, 785-532-5402, gposler@k-state.edu

Friday, April 27, 2007

K-STATE CROPS TEAM WINS NATIONAL TITLE, POSTS RECORD SCORE

MANHATTAN -- The Kansas State University Crops Team took first place in the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Crops Contest April 21 in Hutchinson.

K-State has won the contest seven times in the last nine years. The 2007 team placed first in all four parts of the competition. K-State's total team score of 2,105.1 of 2,400 possible points was the highest score ever achieved in a North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Crops Contest. In addition, one of K-State's team members had the highest individual score ever recorded in the contest.

Thirteen teams from two- and four-year schools participated in the competition. Although competing only with the six four-year schools, the K-State team scored higher than all other teams in the competition.

The competition tested participants' skills in four areas. The agronomic quiz evaluated knowledge of crop production and management, crop physiology and breeding, soils and tillage, soil fertility, crop harvesting and storage, weeds, insects, and diseases. During the laboratory practical, competitors identified insects, diseases, weeds, fertilizers, stored grains, forage and processed crop products, and field and laboratory equipment. In addition, the contest also included crop and weed plant and seed identification, and agronomic calculations and equipment calibration.

K-State team members include:

Matt Becker, senior in agronomy, Centralia, placed fourth overall. He was first in the agronomic quiz, third in agronomic calculations, fifth in identification and seventh in lab practical.

Garrett Russell, senior in animal sciences and industry, Courtland, was an alternate. He was fifth in agronomic quiz, eighth in agronomic calculations and ninth overall.

Zane Unrau, senior in agricultural technology management, Goessel, placed first overall. He was first in identification, first in agronomic calculations, first in laboratory practical and tied for second in the agronomic quiz. Unrau scored 556 of 600 possible points overall, the highest individual score ever achieved in this contest.

Cody Duitsman, sophomore in agronomy, Linn, placed second overall. He tied for second in identification and was second in agronomic quiz, third in laboratory practical and fifth in agronomic calculations.

Rawly Kaufman, senior in agronomy, Lucas, placed third overall. He was second in agronomic calculations, third in identification, fourth in lab practical and fifth in agronomic quiz.

Gerry Posler, K-State professor of agronomy, is coach of the team.