Student Experiences

The Academic Quadrathlon team participates in an event consisting of four areas: a written exam, oral presentation, lab practicum, and quiz bowl. The contest relates to animal science and related industries. The team is made up of four members who work together through the entire event. Students attend a competition co-hosted by UW-Madison and UW-Platteville and one of those teams represents UW-Platteville at the Academic Quadrathlon Contest at the Midwestern Section of the American Society of Animal Science and Midwestern Branch of the American Dairy Science Association Meetings in Des Moines, Iowa.

For more information, contact Krista Eiseman at 608.342.7375 or eisemank@uwplatt.edu.

The UW-Platteville Animal Welfare Assessment Team is open to all students. The team competes in the annual Animal Welfare Assessment Contest each November. The contest is an educational tool for enhancing understanding and awareness of welfare issues affecting all types of animals, including livestock, poultry, research, companion, zoo and exotic animals. The contest teaches ethical reasoning, encourages objective assessment of animal welfare based on scientific theory and data, promotes critical thinking, and improves communication skills. Students interested in animal welfare are afforded a structured opportunity to practice their assessment skills and present their findings to an expert panel of scientists and veterinarians in a logical and persuasive manner.

For more information, contact Dr. Krista Hardyman at 608.342.7235 or hardymankr@uwplatt.edu

The UW-Platteville Crops Team competes annually in the national contests at Kansas City and Chicago, and the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) CROPS Contest. The team consists of three to eight students who represent all class levels in college. The contest has three phases: identification, seed analysis, and commercial grain grading.

The UW-Platteville team has traditionally enjoyed much success in the national contests. It has won six American Society of Agronomy national contests, two NACTA national contests, and usually ranks among the top teams. Contests occur in the fall and spring. All students are welcome to join.

Learn more about the latest reunion and the history of the Crops Team.

For more information, contact Dawn Lee at 608.342.1616 or email her at leedaw@uwplatt.edu.

The UW-Platteville Dairy Challenge team competes at the Midwest competition and the National competition each February and April. The North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge is an opportunity for students across the region and the nation to evaluate dairy farms and give feedback to the producers in the form of presentations. We keep honing our skills each year. Our team has been competing for 10 years and has placed first and second for their farms for three of those years.

For more information, contact Dr. Tera Montgomery at 608.342.6027 or montgomeryt@uwplatt.edu.

The UW-Platteville Dairy Judging Team is open to anyone with an interest in dairy cattle. The contests consist of judging a minimum of 10 classes of dairy cattle. Students must be at least a sophomore to compete in national competitions; however, freshman can judge from the sidelines. Currently the dairy team competes in four national contests each year. The UW-Platteville dairy judging team has been very competitive and successful against other colleges and universities in the US. The team won titles that include the National Dairy Judging Title in 1993; the dairy contest in Louisville, KY in 1991 and 1996; and the southwestern Expo at Fort Worth, TX in 2005. The team has placed consistently at or near the top 10 in all contests that it enters.

No experience is necessary to become a member of the dairy judging team. A willingness to learn, hard work, and practice are the only prerequisites. For more information, contact Cory Weigel at 608.342.1328 or weigelco@uwplatt.edu.

The English Equestrian Team is open to all students and is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. The team demonstrates their Hunt Seat Equitation on the flat and Hunt Seat Equitation over fences skills at several horse shows throughout the academic year at various host campuses. Each show gives the riders an opportunity to earn both individual and team points towards National Competition qualifications.  

Riders will be placed into show levels based on experience with zero experience required. Members are not required to supply their own horse for lessons or shows. In fact, riders should expect to ride a wide variety of horses that will allow them to improve their equitation. While showing is a significant aspect of the team, we strive to provide a positive and welcoming environment where all our equestrians can make new connections.

For more information, contact Natalie Jozik at 608.342.1850 or jozikn@uwplatt.edu.

The UW-Platteville Horticulture Team is made up of students interested in learning how to evaluate and judge cut flowers and potted plant crops. To qualify for the team, students must be interested in horticulture and crops and attend weekly practice meetings.

Team members and coaches attend the National Floral Crops Evaluation and Design Competition, which is held annually during April at various campuses across the country. Team members compete for both individual and team awards. The UW-Platteville team has won two third place team trophies and several top awards in the potted plant division.

For more information, contact Dr. Michael Compton at 608.342.1323 or compton@uwplatt.edu.

The National AgriMarketing Association annual marketing competition pits teams from the United States and Canada against each other to convince a panel of judges (themselves professional marketers) that their product has the best marketing plan. The competition is held in conjunction with the professional marketers' annual conference and thus provides excellent opportunities for networking, job seeking, and professional growth.

In seven out of the last nine years, Pioneer NAMA has made it to the semi-final round, and one year it took second place nationally. In addition, the team has been named second and third overall outstanding chapter, and it has brought home numerous innovative idea awards and scholarships in recent years.

For more information, contact Dr. Lucie Kadjo at 608.342.7652 or kadjol@uwplatt.edu.

Students participating on the Soils Team learn to describe, classify, and make appropriate land-use recommendations for soils in their natural state. The team annually competes in state, regional, and national contests, giving students the opportunity to learn about soils in a variety of regions and landscapes.

Learn more about the latest reunion and the history of the Soils Team.

The team consists of freshman through seniors and there are no prerequisites to join the team, just an interest in soils! For more information, contact Dr. Christopher Baxter at 608.342.1388 or baxterch@uwplatt.edu.

The tractor pulling team focuses on designing and building a 1/4 pulling tractor. The tractor is designed using the Solid Works Software program. After the tractor is designed the team members enter the building portion, which is built based on the design made in Solid Works. After the tractor has been designed and built, Pioneer Pulling debuts its new tractor at the ASABE National Competition in Peoria, IL. 

All are welcome to join, especially students excited about engineering, agribusiness, marketing, and design. For more information, contact David Heimerdinger at 608.342.1380 or heimerdd@uwplatt.edu.

The Western Equestrian Team is open to all students and is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. The team demonstrates their Horsemanship (rail and pattern), Ranch Riding, and Reining skills at several horse shows throughout the academic year at various host campuses. Each show gives the riders an opportunity to earn both individual and team points. Points allow for riders to take High Point and/or Team High Point at each show as well as accumulate towards qualifying for Regionals, Sectionals and the National Competition. 

Riders will be placed into show levels based on experience with zero experience required. Members are not required to supply their own horse for lessons or shows. In fact, riders should expect to ride a wide variety of horses that will allow them to improve their riding ability. While showing is a significant aspect of the team, we strive to provide a positive and welcoming environment where all our equestrians can make new connections.

For more information, contact Natalie Jozik at 608.342.1850 or jozikn@uwplatt.edu.