Awards & Honors
We are proud of the work our faculty, staff, and students put into their research. We recognize the outstanding work done by all in the department.
The Kansas State University Collegiate Crops Judging Team swept the 2025 National Championship competitions
The Kansas State University Collegiate Crops Judging Team swept the 2025 National Championship competitions last week, earning 1st place overall team rankings in both the Kansas City and Chicago legs of the contest. This win is the team’s 34th fall national title since the beginning of the competition in 1923, which brings K-State’s record to an impressive 1/3 of all years since the contest began.
In Kansas City, the team competed in multiple events, taking 1st place in the Grain Grading, Seed Analysis, and Plant and Seed Identification events. In addition to the overall win in Kansas City, students received high individual rankings in the competition. Karlie Albright (senior in Agricultural Education; Delia, KS) received the 2nd overall individual ranking, Collin Mills (senior in Agronomy; Gypsum, KS) received the 3rd overall individual ranking, and Ella Pachta (senior in Agricultural Education; Belleville, KS) was ranked 4th overall individual.
In Chicago, the team’s winning streak continued. In addition to the team being named the overall champion once again, they also received 1st place rankings in the Grain Grading, Seed Analysis, and Plant and Seed Identification events. Karlie Albright earned the 1st overall individual placing, Collin Mills earned the 3rd overall individual, and Ella Pachta earned 4th overall individual.
The team is coached by Dr. Rachel Cott (Assistant Professor of Crop Science, Agronomy), who is assisted by Sarah Frye (Academic Coordinator, Agronomy) and Quinten Bina (senior in Agronomy). Alternate competitors at the national contest were Ashlynn Hartman (senior in Agronomy; Pawnee City, NE), Benton Kerr (junior in Agronomy; Manhattan, KS), Amelia Meng (junior in Agronomy; Cheney, KS), Landon Albrecht (freshman in Agronomy; Kipp, KS), Lilly Coldren (junior in Agronomy; Buhler, KS), and Taylor Eckerberg (junior in Agronomy; Kearney, MO). The team would like to thank their donors for their ongoing support, and for making it possible to travel to contests: Channel Seed, Eisele Farms, Kevin and Sue Donnelly, KCIA, Kansas Wheat Alliance, Kansas Soybean, Kansas Corn, Kansas Wheat, Crop Quest, Diamond T Truck and Trailer, and Corteva Agriscience. Congratulations to the Crops Team!