It’s often said that a little competition is good for everyone. With that in mind, many associations are hosting trivia nights at their conferences and events.

For instance, at its Cultivate ’16 conference in July, AmericanHort held the first-ever Cultivate Trivia event. Hosted by the association’s Generation Next Community, emerging horticulture professionals were encouraged not only to show off their random knowledge about the industry but also to network and get to know their colleagues during the team-based activity.

“We wanted to let our attendees do some stress-free networking,” says GenNext Staff Liaison Lauren Snyder. “And we figured there was no better way than trivia.”

Then there’s the North Carolina Association of Realtors. At its 2016 Conference & Expo in June, it held the 4th Annual NC RPAC Trivia Night and Auction fundraiser.

About 40 teams—with names ranging from “RPAC Shakur” to “The Best and the Beautiful”—took part in the five-round competition that benefited the group’s political action committee. Prizes were awarded to the top three teams, with first place winning $1,000 and, of course, bragging rights.

Destinations are even getting in on the act. Last year the Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau created a trivia game as a way for meeting planners and association executives to learn more about the city.

The CVB takes the mobile game on the road and customizes the questions for the group that will be playing. Players have 10 seconds to answer each question, and the person with the most correct answers in the quickest time wins. The Omaha CVB also can customize the game for groups to use as attendance builders or as an interactive component during their meetings in Omaha.

[This article was originally published in the Associations Now print edition, titled "Trivia Contest."]