Agronomic Issues contest
CANVAS attendance is required to enter the Agronomic Issues contest
The Agronomic Issues contest took place on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025 during #CANVAS25. This contest allowed students to refine their presentation and public speaking skills—with bragging rights and certificates for the winning teams.
Submissions closed: October 1, 2025
2025 contest guidelines | Download
Purpose
The purpose of this contest is to give students an opportunity to develop and showcase a solution to a local, regional, or national agronomic issue. This contest will help students think critically about an issue and highlight the importance of being aware of the many challenges faced in agriculture.
Awards & recognition
The top three teams will be recognized with certificates at the SASES Awards Dinner.
- Any student who holds a current membership in ASA, CSSA, and/or SSSA is eligible to participate.
- Attendance at CANVAS and online pre-registration is required to participate.
- Students should bring forward an issue that can be related to agronomy, soils, or environmental sciences.
- One, four-member (4) team is eligible to register from each university and one presentation per club will be accepted.
Requirements
- Presentations are to be made by a team of up to four individuals. Registration will require team captains to list all members and substitutions will be allowed up until two weeks prior to contest.
- To substitute a team member after Oct 1, you must email ASA, CSSA, SSSA staff and contest chair with replacement's full name and email address.
- Participants should refer to the attached judging guidelines when building their presentation and for more details on what judges will be looking for when grading
- Presentations may be up to, but no longer, than 5-7 minutes with an additional 3-5 minutes for questions. A 30-second grace period is permitted, and 1 point per second will be deducted for presentations under 4 minutes 30 seconds or over 7 minutes 30 seconds.
- Points will be deducted for only the presentation, students will not be penalized for exceeding the subsequent Q&A session.
- Presentation order will be randomized and announced at the start of the competition.
- Presentations must be emailed to the contest chair and ASA, CSSA, SSSA staff at least 48 hours before the contest. A projector and computer will be provided. Powerpoint is the recommended format, but other programs may be used if converted to a .pptx or .ppt file.
- It is highly recommended to bring a copy of your presentation on a flash drive.
Submissions
Contest submission deadline closed on October 1, 2025. You must complete your registration by the deadline to be eligible to participate.
- Teams will be required to submit presentation topic prior to the contest submission deadline. Presentation slides are required 48 hours prior to competition.
- Teams are allowed to make substitutions up to 2 weeks prior to contest start through the confirmation link sent to the team captain. To make substitutions after contest sign-up deadline, you must contact contest chair and ASA, CSSA, SSSA staff with full name and email address.
Judging
- Rubric is currently being finalized, please continue to check this webpage for more information as we get closer to the contest!
Contact
Contest Chair: Melanie Bayles | Send Message
ASA, CSSA, and SSSA Contact: Student Programs | Send Message
1st Place: University of Illinois
2nd Place: Michigan State University
3rd Place: North Carolina State University
