CHAPPELL - Competing at what the organizing soil scientist deemed a special site, 85 students from across the Panhandle tested their skills here in the West Region Land Judging Contest, vying for three team spots at the state contest.

“This is one of the best sites for learning I’ve ever seen,” NRCS Soil Scientist Chuck Markley told students just prior to the contest. “I hope you and your instructors can take advantage of all it has to offer.”

The contest site north of Chappell enabled students to see four widely varying examples of soil types and profiles, or layers going down in the earth. Among those was the unique chance to observe the unique geology at the edge of a playa, a round shallow hollow that is often slow draining and at times of the year can hold water for extended periods. In the Panhandle, students rarely have the chance to use a playa in land judging.

Bayard High School swept the top spots in both team and individual scoring, with the team of Kristina McGann, Rachelle Eads, Tristan Hunter and Loren Haase qualifying for state at the overall champion. Eads joined Manny Acosta and Joe Ferrero, both also of Bayard, as individual purple ribbon winners.

While Bayard teams topped several places in team scoring, Land Judging provides that only one team per school qualifies for state competition, allowing teams from Scottsbluff and Banner County to move on to the state contest in the McCook area October 22.

Qualifying for Scottsbluff were teammates Paige Weborg, Sam McQuistan, Hunter Hill and Jamie Carlson. Christina Grubbs, Rebecca Brown, Taylor Evans and Paige Cross will be Banner County’s representatives.

Land Judging is a high school competition that challenges students to gain a better understanding of soil structure and land evaluation. It enables participants to learn how to recognize the physical features of the soil, determine land capability for crop production, and evaluate management practices needed for proper stewardship. Soil, land and home-site evaluation provide a setting for students to investigate the soils in their region, the environment that surrounds them and their effect on their daily lives.

The contest is organized and run by representatives from local Natural Resources Districts, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services offices and UNL Extension personnel as well as other interested organizations. This year 20 people from a half dozen area offices participated in putting on the contest.

The West Region contest is one of seven regional events across the state. This year’s West Region host was the South Platte Natural Resources District.

West Reg Land Judging_Picture IDs

WestReg_LandJudging_First-Bayard:   The Bayard High School team of (l-r) Kristina McGann, Rachelle Eads, Tristan Hunter and Loren Haase logged the high team score to win the West Region Land Judging contest near Chappell Wednesday, October 8.   The team is one of three from the Panhandle to qualify for State Land Judging to be held near McCook October 22.

WestReg_LandJudging_Second-Scottsbluff:  The team of (l-r) Paige Weborg, Sam McQuistan, Hunter Hill and Jaime Carlson from Scottsbluff earned a state berth with their performance at the West Region Land Judging contest near Chappell Wednesday, October 8.  The team is one of three from the Panhandle to qualify for State Land Judging to be held near McCook October 22.

WestReg_LandJudging_Third-BannerCo:   Banner County’s (l-r) Christina Grubbs, Rebecca Brown, Taylor Evans and Paige Cross competed at the West Region Land Judging contest near Chappell Wednesday, October 8.   The team qualified as one of three from the Panhandle to qualify for State Land Judging to be held near McCook October 22.

WestReg_LandJudging_Top-Three:   The top three scoring individuals at the West Region Land Judging contest near Chappell Wednesday, October 8 were, (l-r) Manny Acosta, Rachelle Eads and Joe Ferrero, all from Bayard High School.