L-B FFA members place in state soil judging contest

On Oct. 12, four members from the Liberty-Benton FFA chapter participated in the state Urban Soils Career Development Event, placing 26th overall in the state. Elizabeth Nauert took 32nd, with a score of 855; Isaiah Todd was 106th, with a score of 767; Jakob Kern took 125th, with a score of 727; and Madison Junge was 144th, with a score of 678. In the Urban Soils CDE, students go into soil pits to determine the nature of the soil in an allotted area. One of the primary forms of identification used is a ribbon test, to determine the amount of sand, silt and clay present in the soil. In addition to "ribboning" the soil, participants observe characteristics such as drainage, compaction and depth of root penetration. Urban Soil judging participants utilize this information to determine the best management practices for the soil provided. The scenarios which they apply management practices to are constructing driveways and roads, installing basements, installing a septic system or developing a garden. In addition to the four pits that contestants judge, there are also two exams — a knowledge-based exam, and another test in which a soil survey book is used to locate relevant information.