Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Youth from across Minnesota are invited to demonstrate their crop science skills at the 2025 Minnesota 4-H/FFA Crop Scouting Contest, scheduled for July 28 on the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul campus.

Organized by Minnesota 4-H, the contest is open to both 4-H and FFA members and provides a unique, hands-on opportunity to explore real-world agricultural careers.

Participants will strengthen their knowledge in crop diagnostics, pest and disease identification, soil science, plant pathology and more. Teams will rotate through field-based stations that mirror scenarios encountered by professional crop scouts and agronomists.

Registration is open now through June 15.

Minnesota 4-H will also offer a virtual training series throughout the summer to help teams prepare for contest day.

As a lead-up to the contest, Minnesota 4-H is also hosting five 4-H Plant Science Summer Field Days across the state:

• July 9 – Lamberton
• July 9 – Rosemount
• July 16 – Waseca
• July 22 – Chaska
• Aug. 11 – Angora

Participants will engage in activities that explore how crops grow, how to identify potential field issues and how agriculture professionals manage healthy, productive crops.

Each field day runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., includes lunch and is free to attend.

To register or learn more about the contest and field days, visit: https://extension.umn.edu/4-h-showcase-events/4-hffa-crop-scouting.