By Audra Koscik
University of Wisconsin–Madison members and affiliates pictured at the 2024 North Central Weed Science Collegiate Contest. Front row, from left to right: Sabeel Abuhakmeh, Jacob Roden, Daniel Zhu, Rianne Wagner, Maria Esser. Middle row, from left to right: Arthur Franco, Ahmadreza Mobli, Ophelia Tsai, Luma Lorena Loureiro, Gustavo Fujihara, Calli Anibas. Back row, from left to right: Jose Junior Nunes, Rodrigo Werle, Zaim Ugljic, Guilherme Chudzik, Nikola Arsenijevic, Ryan DeWerff, Mark Kendall.
Students from the Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences and the University of Wisconsin–Madison excel not only in the classroom, but also in the field. This July, students from the Badger Crops Club, WiscWeeds, the BeanTeam, and other UW–Madison programs traveled to Sheridan, Indiana to test their knowledge and skills regarding weed science.
The students participated in the 2024 North Central Weed Science Collegiate Contest. This contest has a series of events that test students’ skills in the field. For instance, one challenge gives team members a prompt from which they calculate the necessary calibration settings, such as application volume and droplet size, of a CO2 sprayer backpack. The team then assembles a sprayer backpack and sprays an area while being scored on accuracy and efficiency.
Competitions like this one align with the Badger Crops Club’s mission. The club strives to give students hands-on experiences and knowledge they can bring to careers in agricultural related fields. For instance, the Badger Crops Club sells corn they grow at the Monroe Street Farmer’s Market, and they donate extra food to a local food bank. Activities like this help prepare students for agriculture-related careers. The North Central Weed Science Collegiate Contest helps students network, test their skills, and gain hands-on experience.
Mark Kendall, a graduate student from the BeanTeam, won first place in Graduate Individual Problem Solving.
Students from Badger Crops Club and UW–Madison scored well in a unique event. The Problem Solving and Recommendation event simulates a problem extension, sales, or research associates may face in the field when working with clients. Students must act out how they would solve the problem. They are scored on how they approach the client, assess the situation, and solve the problem for current and future years. Jacob Roden, an undergraduate student from the Badger Crops Club, won first place for Undergraduate Individual Problem Solving. Mark Kendall, a graduate student and member of the BeanTeam, scored first for Graduate Individual Problem Solving.
UW–Madison students excelled in many other events. For instance, Daniel Zhu, a Badger Crops Club member, scored first place for Undergraduate Individual Written Calibration. This event has a 30-60 minute multiple choice test. Students must calculate answers to prompts related to herbicide application.
The contest also awards students with the highest combined score over multiple events. Daniel Zhu won second place for Undergraduate Individual. Rianne Wagner, an undergraduate in Badger Crops Club, won third place for Undergraduate Individual.
Schools can also send teams to compete together. These teams can win awards by having the highest combined score across multiple events. This year, Badger Crops Club created a team of four members: Sabeel Abuhakmeh, Jacob Roden, Daniel Zhu, and Rianne Wagner. This team of four has competed together the past two years. This year, the team scored well in many events and won first place Undergraduate Team.
Badger Crops Club students won first place Undergraduate Team. From left to right: Sabeel Abuhakmeh, Jacob Roden, Calli Anabis (Badger Crops Club advisor), Daniel Zhu, and Rianne Wagner.