CROOKSTON, MN – Northeast Community College students finished in third place in sweepstakes for two-year colleges at the 2016 North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Judging Conference held at the University of Minnesota – Crookston.

Northeast was one of 12 community colleges and 19 university teams to compete in the April 14-16 conference.

Northeast’s ag mechanics team placed first overall as well as first in power and machinery, construction and electrical and surveying. The team was second in welding. Team members include Connor Bentley, Neligh, Jon Meis, Elgin, Morgan Smith, Rosalie, and Mike Swanson, Schuyler.

Individually, Meis was first overall and in power and machinery and in construction and electrical.  Bentley placed third overall and was first in surveying, second in welding and third in construction and electrical. Swanson was second in construction and electrical.

In the crops contest, Northeast placed third overall. In addition, the team was first in agronomic quiz and math practical and third in lab practical. Team members include Jared Anderson, Wayne, John O’Brien, Newman Grove, Tarrin Quinn, Winside, and Meis.

Individually, Anderson placed second in agronomic quiz and math practical. Kim Carlson, Pierce, also participated in the crops contest.

In ag sales and marketing, Northeast placed second overall. Team members include Michaela Goedeke, Dunning, Nick Harms, Monroe, and Jordynn Holmberg, Norfolk.

Individually, Holmberg placed first in service sales, Goedeke was second in product sales and Harms was second in equipment sales.

In the agribusiness contest, Northeast placed second overall. Team members include Thomas Rentschler, Atkinson, Riley Stoltz, Norfolk, Whitney Valasek, Palmer, and Alex Wiese, Newman Grove.

Individually, Rentschler placed third overall.

In the Knowledge Bowl, Northeast placed second. Team members include Adam Thompson, Randolph, Anderson, Hoadley and Meis.

In livestock management, Northeast placed third overall, second in the knowledge test and third in problem solving. Team members include Tim Kummer, Columbus, Garrett Pearson, Oakland, Thompson and Goedeke.

Individually, Thompson placed second overall and second in the knowledge test and problem solving

In ag computers, Northeast was third. Team members include Bryan Kummer, Monroe, Riley Stoltz, Norfolk, Walker Rathke, Swedeburg, and Holmberg.

In wildlife management, Northeast placed third overall. Team members include Bailey Carpenter, Neligh, Alex Ott, Blair, Tim Kummer and Rathke.

In landscape design, Chandler Bettenhausen, West Point, placed first.

Northeast was the overall second place team in horticulture. Team members include Shane Hoadley, Norfolk, Joan Johnson, Norfolk, Catrina Spangler, O’Neill, and Bettenhausen.

Individually, Hoadley placed overall and first in woody plant identification while Johnson was first in equipment and tool identification.

Northeast also competed in dairy judging. Team members include Colin Roeber, Greenwood, Rachel Knox, Wausa, Jordan Nelson, Ceresco, and Pearson. Team members in horse judging include Cassidy Chohon, Lindsay, Haley Dolezal, North Bend, and Justin Lurz, Valentine. Livestock judging team members include Chohon, Lurz, Roeber Knox and Nelson. Soils contest team members include Payton Janke, Wayne, Bryan Kummer, O’Brien and Wiese.

The students were accompanied by instructors Mike Roeber, Bernie Thyen, Chris Burbach, Kathy Goodwater and Mike Zierke and Agriculture, Math and Sciences Associate Dean Tara Smydra.

In addition to in the contests, the students toured the Redlin Art Center in Watertown, SD, and the Case/Steiger Tractor Factory in Fargo, ND. Some of the students were also able to take in other tours during the conference, including Itasca State Park and the Mississippi Headwaters at Park Rapids, MN, the SunOpta Sunflower processing facility in Crookston, MN, the American Crystal Sugar Company processing facility in Crookston, MN, and the JR Simplot potato processing plant in Grand Forks, ND. JR Simplot processes the french fries for many fast food restaurants, including McDonald’s and Burger King.

Mike Roeber was also re-elected as president of the NACTA Judging Conference Coaches Association for a two-year term.