Soil Judging Team

Soil judging is an extracurricular activity sponsored by the Soil Science Society of America designed to further undergraduate students' understanding of soil morphology, classification, interpretations, and landscape distribution.

The activity is open to all undergraduate students with a desire to learn more about field interpretation of soil and landscape characteristics. The only requirements are a desire to learn and willingness to give up a few hours during the week to develop the skills needed to better understand soils in the field.

The activity is centered on the Southeastern Regional Soils Contest held each fall at a university within the region which includes the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. If the team places in the top four or five positions at the regional contest, they are eligible to compete in the national contest held in the spring. The contest itself is a one-day event and consists of evaluating properties and making interpretations for four soils. However, the host school makes available a number of practice sites that enable the contestants to gain first hand knowledge of soils in the area during the three days prior to the contest on Friday. The exposure to soils, agriculture, ecology, and people in the region during the three days of practice cannot be duplicated in any classroom or any other setting.

Travel expenses for the six or seven member team are paid by donations from various organizations and businesses who recognize the value of the activity including the Georgia Plant Food Educational Society, the Soil Science Society of Georgia, and the Georgia Soil Classifiers Association. We appreciate the interest and generosity of these groups.

The University of Georgia Soil Judging team competed in the National Soils Contest hosted by Auburn University on April 7 and 8, 2005. The team placed 4th overall and 2nd in the team competition of 22 teams from across the country competing.

Team members included Kelli Coleman, an Environmental Soil Science major from Pulaski County; Andrew Croy, an Environmental Soil Science major from Forsyth County; Tony DeMarco, an Environmental Soil Science major from Gwinnett County; Gus McCormick, an Environmental Soil Science major from Bullock County; Charles Moore, an Environmental Soil Science major from Hart County (7th place individual); Ronald Navarrette, an exchange student from Ecuador; and Troy Smith, an Environmental Soil Science major from Effingham County.

If you are interested in becoming involved with soil judging, please contact Dr. Larry West (706-542-0906; lwest@uga.edu) in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences. Practice will begin in early fall to prepare for the 2005 Southeastern Regional Contest which will be hosted by North Carolina State University.