Getting their hands dirty is what the soil judging team at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln does best.
Each year, the 16 to 18 members of the soil judging team take a class to prepare for competitions in the fall and spring semesters. According to Samantha Teten, a member who’s been on the team for four years, the members look at different soil characteristics like color, texture and structure. They then classify the soil and determine if it would be suitable for building houses, for gardening and more.
“My brother was on the soil judging team his senior year of college and loved it, and that really rubbed off on me,” she said. “I joined my freshman year, which not a lot of freshmen do, and immediately fell in love with it and the people on it.”
According to Teten, at competitions, the team has to perform a number of different tasks, including analyzing soil alone and as a group. Soil scientists first determine the soil’s values, and then choose the winner of the competition based on who matches the values the closest.
Teten, a senior agronomy major, said the team has traveled around the country to compete, including a trip to Manhattan, Kansas, in September where they received first place at the Region 5 Soil Judging Contest.
“Last year, we were the regional winners for the first time in a while,” she said. “That gave us a lot of confidence to do as well as we have this year, and we hope to continue the streak at our national competition in San Luis Obispo this spring.”
Bryan Petersen, an officer on the team and a junior applied climate science major, said through soil judging, he’s able to learn about soil characteristics and formation, which is an integral part of the climate system.
“I enjoyed land judging in high school, which is similar to soil judging, and it led me to where I am today,” he said. “I thought that joining the soil judging team would be a great way to meet new people and get involved, and it definitely is.”
Both Petersen and Teten said joining the team helped them gain important skills, like learning how to work together. According to Teten, they have competed in all weather conditions, including rain and snow, but that doesn’t stop them from enjoying what they do.
“I think it shows that our team members are committed to it,” Teten said. “Along with competing, I have met my best friends here, and our coaches always push us to do our best.”
The team spends time traveling with each other to competitions, and Teten and Petersen said their best memories come from the long drives and the shared experiences.
“Honestly, at first I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but it has proved to be the best thing I could have done,” Teten said. “We do things hands-on, and it’s a great way to try something different. I think everyone should join.”
Lydia Wall | The Daily Nebraskan
news@dailynebraskan.com
More details at: https://go.unl.edu/shwf