Johnson County 4-H Wins 2026 Nebraska Crop Scouting Event

By Scout Nelson

The 2026 Nebraska Youth Crop Scouting Competition, organized by Nebraska Extension, gave students the opportunity to apply agricultural knowledge in real-world field settings while exploring career opportunities. Held Aug. 6 at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center (ENREEC) near Mead, the event challenged participants to identify crop issues and recommend management solutions.

The annual competition emphasizes hands-on learning through practical crop production scenarios. Participants worked with agricultural specialists and strengthened their skills in crop evaluation, scouting, and problem-solving.

Johnson County 4-H earned first place in this year's competition. Team members Wesley Schmid, Josie McCoy, Sophia Schmid, and Stetson Miller received a $500 prize after improving on last year's third-place finish.

Colfax County 4-H placed second and received $250. Team members included Akryn Bell, Justin Eisenmann, Josh Eisenmann, Cody Jedlicka, and Daphne Jedlicka.

Broken Bow FFA finished third in its first year of participation, earning a $100 award. The team included David Goodner-Wilkie, Mason Govier, Rawlins Kleeb, and Madden Kleeb.

Competition results demonstrated a strong connection between the program and students' interest in agricultural careers. Seventy percent of participants said they learned about a new career opportunity, while all participants expressed interest in working in an agriculture-related field.

Students reported increased knowledge in pest identification, crop scouting procedures, economic treatment thresholds, and nonchemical pest management practices. The program also improved awareness of educational opportunities at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Coaches and mentors noted that the competition helps students build valuable industry connections and gain real-world experience. These relationships have also helped some participants secure employment and summer job opportunities.

Johnson County 4-H and Colfax County 4-H will represent Nebraska at the regional Youth Crop Scouting Competition on Sept. 12. Hosted by Illinois Extension, the event will feature teams from Nebraska, Iowa, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Minnesota.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-eugenesergeev