K-State College of Agriculture -- An Inside View

K-State Soil Judging Team Takes National Honors

The K-State Soil Judging Team took home top honors at the 2008 National Soil Judging Contest. This marks the first time the K-State Soil Judging Team has taken first place overall in the national contest. The contest was hosted by the University of Rhode Island, and 21 teams competed.

Individual team members also succeeded in the competition. Leah Ferdinand, senior in agronomy from Reading, Kan., won second place; Paul Hartley, senior in agronomy from Emporia, Kan. won sixth place; Ryan Cyr, senior in agronomy from Miltonvale, Kan., received 14th place; and Adam Heitman, senior in agronomy from Webber, Kan., received 20th.   

Other competing team members include Kelsey McGie, sophomore in milling science and management from Iola, Kan.; Andrew McGowan, junior in agronomy from Prairie Village, Kan.; Andrew Newkirk, freshman in agronomy from Manhattan, Kan.; and Angela Tran, junior in agronomy from Prairie Village, Kan.

Mickey Ransom is the team coach, assisted by Scott Dooley, senior in agronomy from Jewell.   

The Soil Judging Team won second place overall last year and has qualified for the national competition 13 out of the last 14 years. They have also won the regional contest three out of the last five years.

The contests are an activity of the American Society of Agronomy and the Soil Science Society of America.

K-State Powercat Tractors Win 7th International Competition

For the seventh time in the 11-year history of the event, a team from Kansas State University has won the International Quarter-Scale Tractor Design Competition.

The K-State Powercat Tractors Quarter-Scale Design Team placed first overall out of 24 team from schools across the U.S. and Canada by accumulating the most points in the competition categories of performance, written report, oral report, design judging and maneuverability. K-State was first in the 1,050-pound performance pull and tied for first in the 1,300-pound performance pull.

Members of the team are K-State agricultural technology management majors from the College of Agriculture and biological and agricultural engineering majors from the College of Engineering.

K-State Ag in the News: Vincent Hofer Receives Anderson Award

Each year, the K-State Alumni Association recognize four outstanding seniors for their contributions in leadership, service, inspiration and academics. Vincent Hofer, a 2008 graduate in agribusiness from Franklin, Kan., received the Anderson Award for Outstanding Leadership.

As chapter president of the National Agri-Marketing Association, Vincent was instrumental in leading the K-State team to back-to-back wins in national competition. Other leadership activities include serving as president of the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Club, vice president of Blue Key, and the vice president and treasurer of the Ag Council. Hofer also was a recitation instructor for a class of 40 students in agricultural economics.

Congratulations, Vincent!