Bentley, Meis, Carpenter Compete At Ag Judging Contest

Three Antelope County students helped lead Northeast Community College to a runner-up finish at the 2016 North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Judging Conference held at the University of Minnesota – Crookston.

NECC placed third in the sweepstakes division thanks to the school's strong finish in so many divisions. 

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 were 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.

Meis was also part of the Knowledge Bowl team that placed second and the crops contest that placed third. 

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

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

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 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 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.