Submitted article
Dola, OH – On Thursday, September 25th the Buckeye Central FFA members attended the Hardin Northern Soil Judging Invitational. Once again the participants utilized classroom knowledge and skills to evaluate the soil characteristics and make recommended management and conservation practices to the land owner.
In the Rural Contest 92 teams from 29 schools participated in the all-day event. Buckeye Central’s Top team consisting of Zoe Rutlege, Katie Keppler, Kendra Swartz, and Jasmenn Norville placed 15th overall. Top individuals included Nick Fike 15th, Ray Stahl 16th, Keppler 45th, Alex Dearsman 50th, and Kendra Swartz 57th out of a total of 326 students.
In the Urban Contest 42 teams from 20 schools participated in the event. Buckeye Central’s top team consisting of Paul Heydinger, Peter Keller, Austin Wurm, and Jordan Stockmaster placed 1st in the event edging out the North Union team by one point. Top individuals were Wurm 3rd, Keller 10th, Stockmaster 11th, Heydinger 18th, Megan McCoy 25, and Miranda Wurm 35th out of a total of 139 participants.
The unique soils of Hardin County posed a challenge for the judges as hard dense soil layers near the surface were a determining factor in the soil conservation and management. This experience greatly diversified the students’ perspective as even though the contest was not to far away from home the soils were very different.