When I first came into Extension I sought for ways to incorporate my agricultural education teaching experience with the adult crops programming. Last year, I was able to get a project up and rolling which I’ve been involved and is approaching its one year completion which is exciting to see my two passions – youth and agriculture come together.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension and the Nebraska Corn Board have teamed up to offer the First Annual Innovative Youth Corn Challenge contest. This contest was open to 4-H members or FFA members and challenged them to create an innovative, yet economical way to increase yields in their own corn plot. As a team youth were challenged to implement a production practice different than normal to determine if they increased their yield. Yields, cropping history, and production information is being gathered by participants.
Six teams completed proposals and projects in this pilot year. Teams are the Super Strong H’s 4-H club from Polk County, Humphrey FFA, Wrangler’s 4-H Club from Platte County, Fillmore Central FFA, David City FFA, and the Pioneers 4-H Club from Madison County.
Cash prizes and plaques will be given to the first, second, and third place teams at the Corn Yield Challenge Banquet set for December 5, 2012 at UNL’s East Campus.
Youth interested in participating next year should go to cropwatch.unl.edu/youth/ website. For more information, contact myself at brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu.
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