Colorado State University Students Win at Agronomy Contest

Colorado State University’s Department of Soil and Crop Sciences was well represented in Denver in early November at the Student Association of the American Society of Agronomy, where eight student members received first-, second- and third-place honors.

The Colorado State quiz bowl teams placed first and third in the nation by responding to a wide range of agricultural questions on soils, crops, insects, diseases, weeds and management that students are expected to receive from classroom experience, guest seminar speakers, internship opportunities and on-the-job training.

The first-place quiz bowl team consisted of Todd Gaines from Flagler; Courtney Thomas from Morrill, Neb.; Erin Brown from Eckley; and Derek Godsey from Wray. The third-place team was comprised of Nick Colgazier from Holyoke, Nathan Weathers from Yuma, Robin Bayley from Bennett and Randall Nelson from Sterling. Individual winners are Todd Gaines, Courtney Thomas and Derek Godsey.

Gaines won first place in the research poster contest and also placed third for his speech, "Can Cooperative Extension Survive?" Derek Godsey placed second in the research oral presentation contest.

Thomas prepared the club poster entitled, "Agriculture: No Longer the Missing Piece in the Community. CSU’s Ag Day Puts it all Together," which received the third-place award. She also was named president of the student section of the American Society of Agronomy for the 2003/2004 term. Thomas will be coordinating national student activities and organizing the meeting for next year, to be held in Seattle, Wash.  

Other members who attended the conference and participated in the events and in leadership development activities were Brandy Carroll from Bozeman, Mont., and Bryan Dickson from Wray.

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