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Show Off Your Skills at the Iowa State Fair Weed Identification Contest

July 7, 2022
Content Author: Meaghan Anderson, Bob Hartzler

30 a.m.

The annual ISU Extension & Outreach Iowa State Fair Weed Identification Contest will be held on Friday, August 12, from 9 – 11:30 a.m. in front of the John Deere Agriculture Building.  With three divisions (Future Agronomists (youth under age 19), General, and Professional), the contest offers fun competition for the entire family!  Following the contest, winners will be announced at the 3 p.m. awards ceremony inside the John Deere Agricultural Building. Weeds will also remain on display for the duration of the fair on the lower level of the John Deere Agriculture Building.

The top 5 winners in each division will walk away with a cash prize and a coveted Iowa State Fair ribbon. Future agronomists will identify 20 common Iowa weeds, those in the general division will identify 30 weeds, and professionals will identify all 30, plus 5 extra challenging Iowa weeds.

A contestant fills out his answer sheet while competing in the contest
A participant in the 2021 contest fills out his answer key.

“Each year is an exciting opportunity to choose a variety of common and uncommon Iowa weeds to keep contestants guessing! We invite all weed identification enthusiasts to see how their ID skills stack up against the best,” said Meaghan Anderson, extension field agronomist and contest organizer. “If you aren’t ready now, there’s plenty of time to study up and improve your skills!”

For more information on the contest, please reach out to Meaghan Anderson at mjanders@iastate.edu or visit the Iowa State Fair Contests page online. Not sure you’re ready for the big day? Use the ID resources below to study up and sweep your division:

Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Integrated Crop Management News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required. This article was originally published on July 7, 2022. The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.

Authored by
Meaghan Anderson
Meaghan Anderson
  • Field Agronomist in Central Iowa
Meaghan Anderson is a field agronomist in central Iowa and an extension specialist at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Areas of expertise include weed management, weed biology, cover crops, corn and soybean management, and integrated pest management.
Bob Hartzler
Bob Hartzler
  • Retired Weed Scientist and Professor of Agronomy
Dr. Bob Hartzler is a former professor of agronomy and a former extension weed specialist with a Ph.D. in Crop Physiology from Iowa State University. He conducted research on weed biology and how it impacts the efficacy of weed management programs in corn and soybean. Dr. Hartzler also taught undergraduate classes in weed science and weed identification.

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