By Sydney Peterson and Maya Hayslett
Iowa youth crop scouting teams earned top honors at the 2026 Regional Crop Scouting Competition, with one team placing first and another tying for second among competitors from six Midwestern states.
Hosted by the University of Illinois on Sept. 12 at the Crop Sciences Research and Education Center in Champaign, the competition brought together top youth crop scouting teams from Iowa, Nebraska, Indiana, Minnesota, Kentucky and Illinois. The top two teams from each state’s crop scouting competition advance to the regional event, where they tackle more advanced scouting challenges and apply their knowledge in a real-world setting.
This year, Iowa teams excelled. The Crop Doctors of Clayton County claimed first place, with team members Owen Walz, Garrett Burns, Caleb Zuercher and Henry Reimer, coached by Bob Schilling.
The GDUs, coached by Joe Shirbroun, tied for second place with members Cora Keehner, Brooke Donlon, Haylee Hillers and Tyler Hoeger. Teams from Minnesota’s Dakota, Rice and Polk counties and Illinois’ Richland County also tied for second. The Nebraska team from Colfax County placed third.
The regional competition builds on skills developed through state-level contests, challenging youth to apply crop science concepts in a real-world setting while working as a team. Participants answer questions and complete hands-on tasks focused on pest identification, pest management, crop disorders, crop staging and responsible pesticide use.
Source : iastate.edu