Wigdahl participates in National Collegiate Landscape Contest

2018 Apr 10

Justin Wigdahl tested knowledge of landscape and horticulture at the National Collegiate Landscape Competition (NCLC) at Alamance Community College in North Carolina March 14-17, 2018.

The competition is made up of 30 real-world contests that have an average of 60 participants in each. Students may participate in more than one contest and some contests are in small teams.

Wigdahl placed 1st in Annual and Perennial Identification. In this event, contestants are required to identify, by botanical name and common name, a group of 50 annual and perennial plants. Wigdahl also participated in Wood Construction, placing 12th. This contest involves a team of two students constructing a wooden structure as shown on plans and diagrams. The team must display competency in following a plan, selecting and using hand tools, safe use of power tools, material efficiency, cutting, nailing, bolting, selection and application of screws, squaring, leveling, drilling, plan completion, and clean up.

The team from Iowa State was among the more than 700 top landscape and horticulture students from two- and four-year colleges around the country. As a whole, the group placed 30th out of 62 schools, a fine achievement with 14 of the 15 team members being new to the competition.

In addition to the contests, attendees had the opportunity to network with some of the top industry companies and dozens of the biggest industry manufacturers and suppliers.

Lisa Orgler, senior lecturer in horticulture, is the adviser for the group.