Ag students pursue academic honors in Coffeyville

To allow students to use what they have learned in the classroom against other schools, the Pratt Community College agriculture department competed in competitions April 12-14.

Twelve students from the college traveled to Coffeyville to take part in the North America College and Teachers of Agriculture competitions against about 40 other schools. While there, they competed in ag business management, ag mechanics, livestock management, computer and crops contests.

Each test had two sections, one of them being an exam and the other was either problem solving or applications.

“The students did a good job and handled themselves well,” said Lori Montgomery, ag instructor. “It is a terrific competition.”

In ag business management Dalton Hodgkinson, of Pratt, placed fifth on the exam and eighth in problem solving, putting him in sixth place overall. The team also took sixth overall.

Destiny Wendland, of Saint John, took 11 place overall in computers and the team took sixth overall.

Hodgkinson also placed in livestock management taking fourth overall. The team also received a fourth place finish.
 
The ag mechanics team took third overall.

Ag instructor, Bill Hunter said that while the students learn the basics in the classroom, the students must also work outside of class to do well in the judging.

He said the students who commit to going, must go to study sessions for a few weeks to review the information and must also study on their own to do well.