The NACTA (North America Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture) Judging Conference was held in Canyon, Texas this year and provided undergraduate students from across the country judging opportunities in a wide array of fields.

The conference is hosted each spring by a member school. The conference provides an important component in preparing students for a career in an agriculture-related field through enhancing their decision-making ability, prioritization skills, communication skills, and technical abilities within a student’s chosen field.

The Illinois State University Department of Agriculture took 19 students to the event this year. The competition was at an all-time high with the conference offering a record 18 contests and hosting a record 776 registered students competing up to three times each. Students represented Illinois State in each of the 18 events offered. The teams and team members are listed below, along with awards won. Because so many teams did so well, Illinois State University was the runner-up champions in the four-year Sweepstakes Overall.

“The conference and the opportunity that our students got to compete was exceptional, in terms of educational value, seeing agriculture in a different part of the country, and preparation for the ag industry,” said coach Nicholas Heller. “Even before the awards banquet, we would have considered the competition an overwhelming success.”

Dana Merriman echoed this sentiment: “Attending the NACTA Conference in Canyon, Texas was a great experience. We brought home awards that showed off all of the hard work that went into making this event a success.”

Dr. Rob Rhykerd served as one of the faculty coaches for the Illinois State NACTA teams: “To me, the results of this contest highlight what an amazing ag program we have at ISU. It’s the result you get when you combine motivated, hard-working students with professors who are passionate about teaching and student success. I am incredibly proud of our students and of my colleagues who helped train them.”

During the three days of competition, more than 900 students and coaches represented 51 colleges in contests of ag education, ag business, ag communications, ag computers, portfolio, mechanics, crops, livestock judging, livestock management, dairy judging, knowledge bowl, precision ag, horticulture, soils, parliamentary procedure, veterinary science, horse judging, and equine management. “To have the opportunity to compete in three contests was a huge blessing, but being able to come home with new friendships, enhanced workplace skills, and countless memories makes all the front-end preparations worth it. Bringing home a few trophies doesn’t hurt either,” said Beth Clark, who competed in three competitions. All three of those teams placed in the top two.

“Heading to the event was an amazing experience. It was very informative to see where I rank in my educational path compared to other colleges and universities,” said Elijah Floerke. “Winning second place was pretty amazing. I am very grateful to ISU and my professors. I know I would not be at this point without the support of people around me. I am looking forward to many more great experiences.”

There is excitement at Illinois State about bringing home such recognition, and it has the students looking forward to next year. Even more exciting is that Illinois State University will be the host school for the 2026 NACTA Judging Conference. The University will be welcoming the best in agriculture to Central Illinois and showing off many of the tremendous resources that our area has to offer.

Some of the students who competed in this year’s contests will be graduating; however, several others will be returning to campus in the fall and are looking forward to the long hours of preparation and the camaraderie that comes with working hard together.

Emily Klauer reflected on her involvement: “Getting to attend NACTA in Canyon, Texas, this year was an amazing experience to wrap up my collegiate career at Illinois State University. It was a great way to put to the test all that I have learned from my professors since my freshman year. We all put in a lot of time and effort before leaving and continued that while at the competition. It was a great experience and one that I will be thankful for forever.”

Ag Business

Addy Chandler

Elijah Floerke

Kolbi Johnson

Ag Communication–second place team

Ag Computers

Ag Education—first place team

Ag Mechanics

Crops Judging

Dairy Judging

Equine Management

Horse Judging

Horticulture

Bailee Stratman

Knowledge Bowl

Livestock Judging

Abbey Wellner

Livestock Management

Parliamentary Procedure—first place team

Portfolio Contest

Precision Agriculture–third place team

Soils Judging

Veterinary Science

Destiny Estes