North Dakota 4-H members put their agricultural knowledge to the test at the 4-H State Agronomy Contest held on March 15. This contest challenges participants with career-focused skills, including crop and weed identification (both plant and seed), insect identification, market factors for grain crops, agronomic disorders and soil science.

The state contest is split into the junior division (ages 8-13) and senior division (ages 14-18). This year, 44 junior and 18 senior contestants competed, demonstrating their proficiency in agronomy. Senior division participants had a maximum possible score of 1,100 points, while junior division participants competed for a high score of 800 points.

The top-placing individual seniors were the following:

• 1st Place – Tucker Stover (Head of the Herd Award), 1,017 points
• 2nd Place – Abby Lee, 1,016 points
• 3rd Place – Charles Dagman, 1,012 points
• 4th Place – Molly Hansen, 1,007 points
• 5th Place – Kenleigh Hinrichs
• 6th Place – Gustin Ueckert
• 7th Place – Oliver Fewell
• 8th Place – Mary C. Fewell
• 9th Place – Ingrid Myrdal
• 10th Place – Leo Lehlum

The top-placing senior teams were the following:

• 1st Place – Foster County, Team Score: 2,999
• 2nd Place – Griggs/LaMoure County, Team Score: 2,679
• 3rd Place – Golden Valley/Pembina/Walsh County, Team Score: 2,639
• 4th Place – Ransom County, Team Score: 2,374
• 5th Place – Grand Forks County, Team Score: 2,318

The top-placing individual juniors were the following:

• 1st Place High Individual – James Fiesel (Head of the Herd Award), 758 points
• 2nd Place – Jackson Topp, 738 points
• 3rd Place – Grayson Dagman, 711 points
• 4th Place – Levi Dagman, 708 points
• 5th Place – Haakon Kvamme
• 6th Place – Ryker Wilson
• 7th Place – Luther Hoverson
• 8th Place – Gibson Hahn
• 9th Place – Mason Stober
• 10th Place – Cody Lyons

The top-placing junior teams were the following:

• 1st Place – Cass County, Team Score: 2,124
• 2nd Place – Ransom County, Team Score: 2,048
• 3rd Place – Foster/Wells County, Team Score: 1,915
• 4th Place – Sheridan County, Team Score: 1,865
• 5th Place – Grand Forks County, Team Score: 1,836

The 4-H State Agronomy Contest provides youth with hands-on experience in agriculture and agronomy while fostering leadership, teamwork and career readiness.

For more information on North Dakota 4-H agronomy programs and future contests, visit the North Dakota 4-H Agronomy Contest web page.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – April 4, 2025

Source: Sara Clemens, 701-877-2589, sara.clemens@ndsu.edu

Editor: Dominic Erickson, 701-231-5546, dominic.erickson@ndsu.edu