October 8, 2018
By: Leigh Fuson
Often overlooked, soil is the basis of all human life. Without quality soil, we would have no plants or animals. 4-H members Luke Magness, Will Mathis, and Paul Oliver had a lot to learn about soil and the lay of the land while preparing for the Central Region Land Judging contest held in Springfield. They had great success by earning 2nd place in the junior high division. Paul Oliver was awarded 4th high individual.
The purpose of soil judging is to teach youth the skills necessary for soil science and land use. Competitors jump in the soil “pit” to test texture and determine quality. This offers the students insights into any potential problems or benefits of using a certain piece of land for production agriculture or home site development. Examining the soil also helps with conservation efforts. 4-H members must also learn about slope.
This was the first team from DeKalb County to compete in several years, and they represented us very well! A big thanks goes out to Melissa Oliver, NRCS Soil Conservationist for coaching the team. For more information about Land Judging or any other 4-H activity, please contact the UT/TSU Extension office at 615-597-4945.