Nebraska Soil Judging Team Earns Top-Five

By Scout Nelson

Students from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln earned a fifth-place overall finish at the Region V Collegiate Soil Judging Contest in southern Missouri. The competition brought together 78 students from universities across the Midwest to test their soil evaluation skills.

The Nebraska team included Lara Arnold, Sydney Honaker, Lauren Rice, Diego Sanchez and Fiona Wynn from the School of Natural Resources. The team placed fourth in group judging, while Honaker, Sanchez and Rice earned top individual rankings.

Participants spent several days visiting practice sites across the Ozarks region, examining soil pits and learning about the area's unique soil characteristics. The hands-on experience helped students develop skills used in soil science, agronomy and land management careers.

The competition challenged students to evaluate soil properties and site conditions and use their observations to make land-use recommendations. Contest sites featured a variety of landscapes, including forested areas, sinkholes and floodplains.

According to team coach Becky Young, the Ozarks offered significantly different conditions from those typically found in the Great Plains and Midwest. The region's older, rocky soils provided competitors with a unique learning experience and tested their ability to adapt to unfamiliar environments.

Weather also affected the team's preparation, as frequent rainfall in Nebraska limited field practice opportunities before the contest. In contrast, drought conditions in southern Missouri created very dry and dusty soil conditions during the competition.

Beyond the contest, students explored the Ozark National Scenic Riverways and Mark Twain National Forest. These visits provided additional opportunities to learn about the region's natural landscapes, ecology and history.

Students interested in future competitions can participate through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Soil Evaluation courses, which offer training and opportunities to compete in regional and national soil judging events.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-sasiistock