VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The 2026 North Dakota State Crop Show was held during the North Dakota Winter Show in Valley City.
The crop sample judging took place on February 27th, 2026. Crop sample exhibits are put on display for the duration of the North Dakota Winter Show event. Any resident of North Dakota can exhibit a crop sample grown in North Dakota from either of the last two years of production. The event is held to bring awareness of the crops grown in North Dakota and their value to the state, nation, and world.
Participants in the North Dakota Crop Show consist of youth from FFA Chapters and 4-H Clubs and adults and youth who enter the Open Division. The crop samples are awarded premiums adjusted to their judging results. A 4-H and FFA division blue ribbon receives $5, a red ribbon $3, and white ribbon received $1. The first place 4-H, FFA and Open division exhibit per lot receives $10 premium. The top six championship crop samples per lot can receive up to $100 premium with an adjustment in premium awarded down to sixth place.
We would like to thank our sponsors for making this event possible. The Platinum sponsors were North Dakota Wheat Commission and North Dakota Winter Show; Gold sponsors were John Deere Seeding Group, ND State Seed Department/ND Crop Improvement & Seed Association; Silver sponsors were Agassiz Seed & Supply, Ag Country Farm Credit Services, Maple River Grain & Agronomy, ND Barley Council, ND Corn Council and Columbia Grain Valley City; and Bronze sponsors were McKenzie County Seed Improvement Association, LaMoure County Ag Improvement Association, Maasjo Farms, Carrington FFA Alumni, Fessenden-Bowdon FFA Alumni and Noeske Seed Farm.
The 2026 North Dakota State Crop Show Honoree was Dave Maasjo. Dave has served the agricultural community through several different volunteer roles. He served as president of the North Dakota Winter Show Foundation prior to becoming a member of the North Dakota Winter Show Board of Directors in 1997. He served as a North Dakota Winter Show board director from 1997 through 2025. Dave has been a strong supporter of the North Dakota Crop Show, consistently attending planning meetings and providing guidance to support the continued success of the event. As a former 4-H and FFA member, Dave has enjoyed giving back by helping ensure the North Dakota Crop Show remains an
event that actively engages 4-H and FFA youth.
The Rutledge Kane Showmanship award is given to the exhibitor in either the 4-H or FFA division who accumulates the most points by the number of samples entered and placings the samples receive. The 2026 Rutledge Kane Showmanship winner was Cyrena Kuss from the Carrington FFA Chapter. For a complete list of the North Dakota Crop Show results, go to the North Dakota Winter Show website at: northdakotawintershow.com/wintershow-cropshow. The 1st place winners for each lot were:
Lot 1 – Hard Red Spring Wheat – Mason Schuh, Drake-Anamoose FFA
Lot 3 – Durum Wheat – Joel Lemer, Open division, Carrington
Lot 4 – Flax – Emilee Cazier, Fessenden-Bowdon FFA
Lot 5 – 2-Row Barley – Joel Lemer, Open division, Carrington
Lot 7 – Feed Barley – Joel Lemer, Open division, Carrington
Lot 8 – Oats – Joel Lemer, Open division, Carrington
Lot 9 – Rye – Josie Kollman, Carrington FFA
Lot 10 – Soybean – Bianca Burkle, Drake-Anamoose FFA
Lot 11 – Field Pea – Linda Lemer, Open division, Carrington
Lot 12 – Pinto Bean – Billy Jorgensen, Carrington FFA
Lot 13 – White Bean – Aniston Hoornaert, Carrington FFA
Lot 14 – Misc. Edible Bean – Bonnie Johnson, Open division, Galesburg
Lot 16 – Millet – Parker Bickett, Carrington FFA
Lot 17 – Ear Corn – Angie Johnson, Open division, Galesburg
Lot 18 – Shelled Corn – Joel Lemer, Open division, Carrington
Lot 20 – Oil Sunflower – Logan Schimelfenig, Fessenden-Bowdon FFA
Lot 21 – Canola – Ruby Horsley, Cavalier FFA
Lot 22 – Misc. Crops (Camelina) – Joel Lemer, Open division, Carrington
Lot 23 – Wheat Sheave – Joel Lemer, Open division, Carrington
Lot 24 – Barley Sheave – Linda Lemer, Open division, Carrington
Lot 25 – Misc. Sheave (Oat) – Joel Lemer, Open, Carrington