(KIWA Staff Photo)
Statewide, Iowa – If you’ve ever wondered what the weeds are that are growing in your yard and garden you can learn about them and have a chance to win a ribbon.
ISU field agronomist Meaghan Anderson says the weed identification contest is back at the Iowa State Fair. They start with 20 common weeds for youth contestants, and make it more challenging for armature adults.
Anderson says they give the kids a little more leeway in the identification.
The judging is more strict for weed professionals.
Anderson says ISU Extension has some guides you can use to study up on weeds for the contest, as do some other universities.
She says be sure you’re double checking what the app told you the identification was, because a lot of times there’s several species that may be very similar. Anderson says they grow the weeds used for the contest, and the event itself causes her some anxiety.
She says some have come very close to being perfect. The weed judging contest is Friday, August 14th, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in front of the Agriculture Building.
