'Agriculture is our biggest industry': Ag students compete to qualify for state

NORFOLK, Neb. -- Agriculture students from all over the region are trying to separate themselves as the best of the best.

Northeast Community College in Norfolk hosted the District Ag Education contest on Monday.

Students from high schools in northeast Nebraska attended the contest.

Mike Roeber, a livestock judging coach for Northeast, said that the contest determines which students will be heading to the state's event.

"If they do qualify for state, they will know the areas they are weak in," he said. "I've tried them out on my test as much as I could because it's going to be on the state test in another month. Just preparing them for that state contest."

Events at Monday's contest included livestock and meat judging, landscaping, and ag business and sales.

Even though the event will qualify certain students for State, Roeber said every student will be able to take something away on Monday.

"These events teach you life-long skills no matter what you're going to do," he said. "Thinking skills, you're going to learn about new things, you're going to meet new people. Agriculture is our biggest industry in Nebraska and so to add to that industry that we're going to have to keep going."

Over 50 schools and 1,400 students attended the District Ag Education Contest.