By Brandy VanDeWalle
From identifying crop problems to deciding how they should be managed, four teams of Nebraska youth put their scouting knowledge into action Aug. 6 during the 2026 Nebraska Youth Crop Scouting Competition at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center (ENREEC), near Mead.
The annual Nebraska Extension competition turns crop scouting into a hands-on challenge, giving students the opportunity to work through real-world production scenarios, learn from specialists and explore where those skills could take them in agriculture.
Competition Results
- First place — Johnson County 4-H: Wesley Schmid, Josie McCoy, Sophia Schmid and Stetson Miller (Coach: Jon Schmid). The team received $500.
- Second place — Colfax County 4-H: Akryn Bell, Justin Eisenmann, Josh Eisenmann, Cody Jedlicka, and Daphne Jedlicka (Sponsors: Steve Nelson, Logan Nelson, Korbin Kudera and Justin Zoucha). The team received $250.
- Third place — Broken Bow FFA: David Goodner-Wilkie, Mason Govier, Rawlins Kleeb and Madden Kleeb (Advisor: Caleb tenBensel). The team received $100.
- Arlington FFA: Grant Monke, Brody Stork, Logan and Ethan Hilgenkamp (Sponsor: Kali Agler).
Source : unl.edu