close up of soil with a small plant growth showing

Collegiate Crops Judging contest

The National Crops Judging Contest 

This national contest consists of three parts: 

  • plant/seed identification;
  • commercial grain grading;
  • and seed analysis.

The Kansas City and Chicago contests represent the national finals of collegiate crops competition for the year. Preparation for crops contests teaches evaluation of crops for quality relative to certification, viability, and marketing. Students learn, in great depth, many things which can be valuable regardless of their chosen profession in agronomy.

2026 Kansas City American Royal Crops Contest

National Grain Center, Kansas City, MO | November 17, 2026

Presented by: Corteva Agriscience

Additional sponsors:

  • Stine Seed Company
  • American Society of Agronomy
  • South Dakota Crop Improvement
  • American Royal Association
  • CHS Foundation
  • Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA)
  • American Seed Trade Association (ASTA)

2026 Chicago Collegiate Crops Contest

CME Headquarters, Chicago, IL | November 20, 2026

Presented by: CME Group

Additional sponsors:

  • CME Group
  • Society of Commercial Seed Technologists (SCST)
  • Crop Science Society of America
     

2024 Kansas City Team Rankings

  1. Kansas State University
  2. Iowa State University
  3. University of Wisconsin-Platteville
  4. Oklahoma State University
  5. University of Minnesota-Crookston
  6. 2024 Kansas City Individual Rankings

Lakin Giager, Kansas State

  1. Molly Kane, Kansas State
  2. Emma Davidson, Iowa State
  3. Carissa Sohm, Kansas State
  4. Keira Simmons, Iowa State
  5. December McGrew, Iowa State
  6. Anna Hagemann, Wisconsin-Platteville
  7. Cade Halbrook, Oklahoma State
  8. Katherine Hansen, Minnesota-Crookston
  9. Allie Bizosky, Wisconsin-Platteville

2024 Chicago Team Rankings

  1. Kansas State University
  2. Iowa State University
  3. University of Wisconsin-Platteville
  4. Oklahoma State University
  5. Virginia Tech University

2024 Chicago Individual Rankings

  1. Carissa Sohm, Kansas State
  2. Lakin Giager, Kansas State
  3. Molly Kane, Kansas State
  4. Emma Davidson, Iowa State
  5. December McGrew, Iowa State
  6. Cade Halbrook, Oklahoma State
  7. Anna Hagemann, Wisconsin-Platteville
  8. Keira Simmons, Iowa State
  9. Allie Bizosky, Wisconsin-Platteville
  10. Jack Lichte, Wisconsin-Platteville
2026 Contest Rules

2025 Officers of the Coaches Committee

Chair: Beatrix Haggard, Oklahoma State University

Vice Chair: Sarah Frye, Kansas State University

Secretary/Contest Co-Coordinators: Kevin Donnelly, Kansas State University, and Mindy DeVries, Iowa State University

Published on behalf of

ACS - ASA, CSSA, SSSA logos