Utah State Students Play in the Dirt and Bring Home Trophy

Utah State Students Play in the Dirt and Bring Home Trophy

Utah State University brought home the traveling trophy for top honors at the Northwest Regional Collegiate Soil Judging Contest, hosted by Oregon State University.

Utah State team members all performed well in the individual scoring events. Jedd Bodily had the second-highest individual score, followed by Alex Stum in third place, Emily Brown in fourth place and Shawn Nakamoto in seventh place.

Contestants describe, interpret and classify soils and associated landscapes at four sites. They analyze soil morphology (texture, color, structure, redoximorphic features) to a depth of five feet; measure slope gradient; identify soil parent material and landform; interpret soil behavior (surface runoff, hydraulic conductivity, water holding capacity); and classify the soil according to U. S. Soil Taxonomy — all in less than an hour. Team members work independently on two soils, which results in individual scores, and then work together on two soils. All scores are summed for the team total.

Team members are majors in environmental soil and water science in the College of Agriculture. Team coach and soils research associate John Lawley accompanied the students on their marathon road trip to Oregon and guided them to victory. This is the first time Utah State has won the regional contest since the soil judging program was started in 1993 by associate professor of soil science Janis Boettinger. The team is now eligible to compete in the National Soil Judging Contest in Illinois next spring.