It might not be the traditional summer Olympics, but for attendees of Husker Harvest Days, the Crop Skills Challenge offers a different kind of competition—one that puts their crop production management skills to the ultimate test. Hosted by the Testing Ag Performance Solutions (TAPS) program in collaboration with UNL’s Water & Integrated Cropping Systems specialists and educators, this event is back for its third year and promises to be more exciting than ever.
This interactive competition goes beyond just physical farming skills; it’s a true test of the knowledge and decision-making that drives successful crop production. Participants will be challenged in several key areas, including cover crop identification, recognizing insect feeding and herbicide injury, analyzing problematic plot imagery, understanding drone regulations, and optimizing water use efficiency.
Students attending Husker Harvest Days can form teams of four, with each member taking on a different portion of the challenge, making it a great opportunity to showcase a range of expertise.
Throughout the event, participants can track their scores and see how they measure up against others in real time, with daily winners announced at the end of each show day. To further the learning experience, a video series offering insights and answers to the challenge events will be released on social media after the conclusion of Husker Harvest Days.
But it’s not just bragging rights on the line. There’s prize money up for grabs, with $250 gift cards for first place, $150 for second, and $100 for third—awarded daily in both student and non-student divisions. Every participant will also receive a commemorative t-shirt as a memento of their involvement in the challenge.
This free event is open to all attendees of Husker Harvest Days, held in Wood River, NE, from September 10-12. Those interested in participating can find the Crop Skills Challenge at Lot #942, between 8th & 9th Street.