

# Event Details

- **Event Name**: 2026 Youth Crop Scouting Competition
- **Event Start and End Date**: Tue, 04 Aug, 2026 at 08:00 am – Tue, 04 Aug, 2026 at 01:30 pm
- **Event Description**: A competition that prepares youth for life beyond the field.

REGISTER A TEAM IN ADVANCE --> go.illinois.edu/CropScouting

There is no better way to check in on a crop field than to take a walk down a row. Crop scouting gives farmers a heads-up about what is happening in the field, starting from growth stages to the presence of insects or weeds.

For youth looking to strengthen their agronomy skills, share what they already know, or gain experience towards a future career in agriculture, the Illinois Youth Crop Scouting Competition with University of Illinois Extension is a perfect stop along the way. The one-day contest on Aug. 4 gives teams of high school students from across the state the chance to test their agronomy knowledge live and in the field.

2026 Competition Details
Aug. 4 | Register by July 1

All teams will be required to provide completed release forms for all members, in physical or digital form, before the competition, or they will not be allowed to participate.

Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Crop Sciences Research and Education Center, 4202 South First St., Champaign
Agenda: 8:00 a.m. Check-In | 8:30 a.m. Competition Begins | 1:30 p.m. Competition Ends

Lunch, beverages, and a competition t-shirt will be provided

Cash prizes awarded to the four top-scoring teams: 1st $500, 2nd $300, 3rd $200, 4th $100

Each team of two to five high school students must be led and accompanied by an adult coach. Teams should work with their coach to study and train regularly prior to the competition. 
Coaches include FFA advisers, agriculture teachers, seed dealers, coop employees, and others. No more than two teams per sponsoring organization.

The top two teams from the statewide event on Aug. 4 will advance to represent Illinois at the regional competition. 

For questions or to request an accommodation to participate, contact Meagan Diss at mcdiss@illinois.edu or 217-300-5386.


About Youth Crop Scouting Competition
The competition is open to high school students completing grades 9 to 12 in the spring of 2026. Official teams include two to five students and an adult coach. Sign-up is encouraged before the end of the current school year, as space is limited to 10 teams. 

All teams rotate through 10 outdoor stations at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign South Farm fields to test their skills hands-on with topics such as identifying weeds, insects, and diseases, identifying the growth stages of corn and soybean plants, assessing abiotic disorders, pesticide application, and integrated pest management.

Teams are scored by judges, including University faculty, specialists, and Extension educators, and the top four teams will win cash sponsored by industry and university partners. The top two teams will also advance to compete against students in other states and represent Illinois at the regional competition.
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/savoy/2026-youth-crop-scouting-competition/200030095452455
- **Event Categories**: contests, science-fair
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 7

## Ticket Details


## Event venue details

- **city**: Savoy
- **state**: IL
- **country**: United States
- **location**: 4202 S. 1st St., Champaign, IL 61822
- **lat**: 40.0577
- **long**: -88.23811
- **full address**: 4202 S. 1st St., Champaign, IL 61822, 4202 S 1st St, Savoy, IL 61822-9637, United States

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: 2026 Youth Crop Scouting Competition
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events7/banners/fa570711c4bcf4acdff705b844fe50c41c9d9789f06d58bc7cf35060578d84a6-rimg-w1200-h675-dcc8c8c8-gmir?v=1785454051

## FAQs

- **Q**: When and where is 2026 Youth Crop Scouting Competition being held?
  - **A:** 2026 Youth Crop Scouting Competition takes place on Tue, 04 Aug, 2026 at 08:00 am to Tue, 04 Aug, 2026 at 01:30 pm at 4202 S. 1st St., Champaign, IL 61822, 4202 S 1st St, Savoy, IL 61822-9637, United States.
- **Q**: Who is organizing 2026 Youth Crop Scouting Competition?
  - **A:** 2026 Youth Crop Scouting Competition is organized by University of Illinois Extension.

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