Conservation District Hosts FFA Soil Judging Competitions
October 19, 2011
Newark – Licking County FFA high school students participated in two soil judging competitions held in late September in Hartford Township. The events are hosted each year by Licking County Soil & Water Conservation District and other county SWCDs.
Teams consisting of four students evaluated three soil pits to determine soil properties, limitations, recommended conservation practices, and appropriate land uses. Students also completed a written test. In rural soil judging, students evaluated the soil based on its suitability for agriculture, forestry, pasture and wildlife management.
Team winners in the rural division were Licking Valley, first place, Utica, second place and Johnstown, third place. Zach Nagy of Licking Valley received top individual honors in the rural division.
In urban soil judging, students determined soil suitability for roads, lawns and gardens, landscaping, home building sites, basements and on-site septic systems. Team winners in the urban division were Johnstown, first place, Licking Valley, second place and Utica, third place. Elisa Higgins of Johnstown received top individual honors in the urban division.
Fred Hendren of Hendren Century Farms offered his land for the county event and Ohio Fresh Eggs provided labor and equipment to dig the soil pits. Several volunteers helped monitor students as they competed.
Teams from all three high schools went on to compete at the multi-county, District 7 level where Licking Valley placed second and Johnstown-Monroe placed third out of 15 teams in urban judging.
In the district-level rural judging, Licking Valley placed first out of 16 teams and Zach Nagy received top individual honors. At the district competition, Ohio Fresh Eggs provided the site, labor and equipment for the event.
Photos of the event are viewable at /photos
