Exciting Opportunities for Agricultural Technology Students at National Competition
Wonderful opportunities awaited Agricultural Technology (AT) Landscape and Turf students at the National Collegiate Landscape Competition in Fort Collins, CO. Five AT students joined eleven others to represent Virginia Tech in this year’s exciting event. Whit Coggin, Avery Gough, Aiden Mueller, James Ramsey, and Troy Thompson all performed admirably in their competitions and took full advantage of the incredible learning and networking opportunities offered by an event that hosted 54 schools, 727 students, and hundreds of industry representatives.
Whit and Aiden leveraged their turfgrass backgrounds to excel in turf-related events, including Turf and Weed ID and Irrigation Assembly. Whit also showcased his skills in the Compact Track Loader competition.
Troy impressed in three particularly challenging events: Irrigation Troubleshooting, Irrigation Design, and Small Engine Repair.
Avery and James teamed up for two events—Truck and Trailer Operation and Hardscape Installation. Although they were slightly disappointed not to win, their efforts were outstanding, earning them a 3rd place finish in Hardscape Installation!
Avery also competed in the Compact Excavator, Mini Track Loader, and Construction Cost Estimating events, ultimately placing 9th overall out of 727 competitors. Way to go, Avery!
Not to be outdone, James also competed in the Backhoe event and was part of the team that earned 1st place in the Landscape Plant Installation competition. What a fantastic achievement by James and the rest of the install team! James also secured a very respectable 30th place overall.
Reflecting on the experience, Avery shared:
“It was such an awesome experience being out in Colorado and being able to network with such positive and professional industry members! This is such a great trip, and I encourage anyone with the opportunity to take advantage of it. It was so amazing to be able to go out and compete with students from all around the country that work hard toward the landscaping industry. Lastly, I'd like to say a huge thank you to all our sponsors and the National Association of Landscape Professionals for making this event possible!”
After the competition, the team enjoyed a day exploring Rocky Mountain National Park. While the weather was a bit… brisk… it was a truly beautiful day, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the experience.
Each of the Virginia Tech competitors worked hard in the months leading up to the competition and performed with excellence. Overall, VT placed 9th out of 47 schools—an impressive result that reflects not only the students’ dedication to the competition but, more importantly, their commitment to their future careers. They are sure to be valuable assets to the landscaping and turf industries.
Looking ahead, those returning to VT in 2026 can eagerly anticipate next year’s competition at Michigan State University!
Check out the photos from the 2025 National Collegiate Landscape Competition below!
