Each Fall the Darke SWCD teams up with FFA chapters from around the county to hold a soils judging contest to help them prepare for the area competition. On September 20, 2016 the contest was held at Marilyn Swallow's Farm off Studer Road northeast of Versailles. This year 13 teams from all seven county schools- Ansonia, Arcanum, Franklin Monroe, Greenville, Mississinawa Valley, Tri-Village and Versailles- participated in the event.
The land judging contest consists of a rural and urban test. Significant changes have been implemented since the 2015 contest. A few changes implemented on the rural test included a focus on soil health, nutrient management, best management practices and a more in-depth look at soil properties.
Each test challenges the students to not only identify soil types, but also consider other soil characteristics when making recommendations for use of that area. The contest consisted of four stations, three soil pits and a written test. The students had 15 minutes to finish the test at each station.
The land judging contest consists of a rural and urban test. Significant changes have been implemented since the 2015 contest. A few changes implemented on the rural test included a focus on soil health, nutrient management, best management practices and a more in-depth look at soil properties.
Each test challenges the students to not only identify soil types, but also consider other soil characteristics when making recommendations for use of that area. The contest consisted of four stations, three soil pits and a written test. The students had 15 minutes to finish the test at each station.
2016 Results
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RURAL JUDGING CONTEST
Team Scores 1st - Versailles #1 1924 pts 2nd - Mississinawa Valley 1797 pts 3rd - Versailles #2 1730 pts Individual Scores 1st - Danielle Hesson, Versailles #1 695 pts 2nd - Dean Heitkamp, Versailles #1 636 pts 3rd - Cole Spitler, Arcanum 634 pts |
URBAN JUDGING CONTEST
Team Scores 1st - Tri-Village #2 1729 pts 2nd- Tri-Village #1 1689 pts 3rd - Tri-Village #3 1542 pts Individual Scores 1st - Joshua Hollinger, Tri-Village #1 623 pts 2nd- Tyler Martin, Tri-Village #1 622 pts 3rd - Kara Hollinger, Tri-Village #2 587 pts |
2016 County Soils Judging Contest
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Students evaluate a soil pit during the 2016 land judging contest at Marilyn Swallow's farm.
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