Agronomic Issues contest | Science Societies
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Agronomic Issues contest

CANVAS attendance is required to enter the Agronomic Issues contest

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. 

Contest guidelines | Download

  • Submission deadline: Oct. 1, 2026
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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.

If students are attending CANVAS without a SASES chapter, a multi-university team may be established:

  • Students must have a complete, four-member team at time of online registration. One presentation per team will be accepted.
  • Students that are members of an existing SASES chapter are not eligible to participate in a multi-university team.

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, 2026; 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 close on Oct. 1, 2026. 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.
  • SASES club coaches &/or advisors: You may complete the sign-up form on behalf of your student members competing at CANVAS. Please complete an individual form for each student, enter in the email associated with their membership account.

Judging

  • Participant presentations will be graded by a team of judges put together by the contest chair.  Presentations will be graded in accordance with the Agronomic Issues scorecard.

     

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

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