April 26, 2007
AMES, Iowa - A team of Iowa State University agronomy students finished first and second in three North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) contests held in Hutchinson, Kan. April 19-21.
The team won the Ag Knowledge Quiz Bowl and the Ag Computers Contest and placed second in the Crops Contest.
Raechel Baumgartner, a senior from Ponce, Puerto Rico, was the first-place individual overall in the Ag Computers Contest. She finished first in the Ag Computers knowledge exam and second in the Crops Contest lab practical. Michael Schrum, a senior from Grand Junction, placed first in the applications portion of the Ag Computers Contest.
The team of agronomy undergraduates placed second in the lab practical, math, plant and seed identification and agronomic knowledge portions of the crops contest. Other team members included Kellie Tholen, a senior from Tipton, and Jesse Stayner, a senior from Prairie City. Participating as alternates were Matthew Dop, a junior from Monroe; Brent Lytle, a senior from Alta; and Scott Pierce, a junior from Ogden.
Lance Gibson, associate professor of agronomy, coaches the students. The team is sponsored by the Iowa Crop Improvement Association.
NACTA is a professional society that promotes the recognition of excellence in teaching agriculture and related areas at the post-secondary level.
Editor's note: A picture of the team is available by contacting Melea Reicks Licht.