FFA soils team wins state, to nationals in May

The Lind-Ritzville FFA Chapter took two teams to participate in the state Land Evaluation competition on Wednesday, Oct. 23, with one team returning home with the state title. The team of five young men has now received the opportunity to travel to Oklahoma at the end of April to compete in the national contest.

The two local teams traveled to Benton County to compete against 33 other teams from across the state. The Lind-Ritzville teams attended four competitions in various counties prior to the state contest and excelled in the judging competition.

The teams have practiced for the competition in the soils science unit classes taught by Lind-Ritzville FFA advisors Andy Williams and Brad Gering. Williams explained the classroom work helps prepare the students for judging different types of soil and determine their viability for agricultural use and urban development.

The soil judging competition is split into two parts, Williams explained, soil judging to determine land capability and home site evaluation. The home site evaluation challenges the students to grade the soil based on its viability and ability to build a home on the land.

At the contest, the students judged the soil in three 100 by 100 foot pits, which exposes the different types of soil and textures to the contest members.

Williams explained the students judge the soil based on texture, permeability, slope depth, erosion flooding, stone and a variety of other factors in order to determine the type of soil and best purpose for the land.

A fourth pit on the property is used specifically for the home site evaluation portion of the contest.

At the competition, Tyler O’Brien and Ryan Frederick tied for the highest individual score in the contest.

A coin flip decided the duo’s state standing, with O’Brien earning first place and Frederick receiving second.

Bridger Smith finished as the fourth high individual; Connor O’Neill finished as the fifth high individual; and Dylan Hartz took home seventh place in the individual scoring.

The second Lind-Ritzville FFA team finished in sixth place and consisted of team members Dinah Gadberry, Madison Harder, Tessa Jantz, Maya Wahl and Tyler Frederick.

The winning team travels to Oklahoma to compete in the three-day 63rd annual National Land and Range Judging Contest, which begins on April 30. The location of the site remains a secret until the day of the contest, but will be somewhere near the metro area surrounding Oklahoma City, according to the Oklahoma Conservation Commission.

The national contest has been held in Oklahoma since 1952 and the three-day event provides students with an opportunity to learn the soil of the area they are visiting. Williams explained the advisors are beginning to research about the area to learn and teach as much as they can prior to the competition.

The first two days that the students are in Oklahoma City, they have an opportunity to visit practice sites to learn about the soil and plants native to the area. The contestants also meet with soil experts to ask questions and gain as much information about the area prior to the contest.

The skills gained through the competition assist students in potential career fields such as environmental and agricultural management.

Students interested in pursuing a career in home building or construction also gain valuable skills through the competition, specifically in the home site evaluation portion of the contest.

At the conclusion of the contest, the members and advisors attend an award ceremony where individual and team winners are announced.

Individual scores in each category, land judging, home site evaluation and range judging, are also announced with top individuals receiving awards.

The Lind-Ritzville team is continuing to practice and prepare for the national event this spring in hopes of bringing a national title back to the communities.