Willie and the Beanstalk: Climbing to the Top In Agronomy.

To increase awareness of plant and soil science, the Wheat State Agronomy Club (WSAC) had the opportunity to work in conjunction with the Department of Agronomy at Kansas State University to conduct the annual Willie and the Beanstalk Contest. The contest is held each spring during the University wide Open House for elementary, middle and high school students across Kansas.  Over 400 students encompassing 150 teams competed over a six week period to grow the best quality soybean plant. Through Willie and the Beanstalk, students gained knowledge of pests, diseases, water use, nutrient management, plant growth & development, and general record keeping. WSAC members conducted several presentations to students on basic agronomic principles and soybean production in order to aid the students in the development of their soybean plant. Club members assisted with Willie and the Beanstalk in numerous other ways outside of the presentations. Members graded the submitted written reports which included growing media, light, fertilizer rates, and watering habits. During Open House, the contestants displayed their soybean plants in the Throckmorton Plant Sciences Center on campus where WSAC members measured chlorophyll, plant height, leaf area, and plant mass. Club members worked with numerous faculty members to make Willie and the Beanstalk a successful event that has benefited Kansas students for many years. Wheat State Agronomy Club has taken interest in this competition for the past three years and enjoyed educating and interacting with students, teachers, 4H and FFA advisors.